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Behind Locked Doors
by Bara Vaida
To get into the office of White House Cyber Security adviser Richard Clarke in the Old Executive Office Building, you have to know the code. Visitors must be accompanied by an escort who knows the proper set of codes to unlock the door, which leads to a large suite of offices overlooking the mall. In an interview with National Journal's Technology Daily last week, Clarke was more open than his front door in answering some personal questions. When asked whether he was abrasive, as some critics have charged, Clarke answered, "You bet. Absolutely. I am very focused on having meetings that result in action. I don't like to have meetings just to have meetings. I like to focus on personal accountability, and I don't like it when (people) shirk it."
Clarke has survived as a senior intelligence adviser to three presidents, George Bush, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush. When asked how he was able to hold onto his senior role, Clarke said he is a senior civil servant and hence somewhat isolated from politics. "Congress established this senior executive service that was modeled after the British civil servant system ... We move around from ... administration to administration. ... It's a little unusual for that to happen in the White House, but I think it's a good idea," he said.
Before October, Clarke also carried the titles of coordinator of security, infrastructure protection and counter-terrorism for the National Security Council. That meant he spent about 30 percent of his time on cyber-security threats. Now he spends 100 percent of his time on computer security. When asked what drew him to the issue, Clarke said, "I like to try to be a translator, a bridge between technologies and policies. To try to be on the cutting edge."
For the transcript of the full interview with Clarke, click here
Microsoft Losing Top Democrat Lobbyist
Tom Jurkovich, federal government affairs manager at Microsoft, is leaving the company and Washington to head to his hometown of Nashville, Tenn. Jurkovich, who has been Microsoft's top House Democrat lobbyist since 1999, will become Nashville's new director of economic and community development. Previously, he was deputy assistant secretary of inter-governmental affairs at the Commerce Department. Microsoft is looking to replace Jurkovich.
Meanwhile, other changes at Microsoft include the departure of general counsel William Neukom, who joined the company in 1985 and was actively involved in the company's defense against the government's antitrust suit. Brad Smith, who has served as Microsoft's deputy general counsel for worldwide sales for the past five years, will succeed Neukom, who will formally leave in mid-2002.
On the Campaign Trail
Former Vice President Al Gore endorsed his old speechwriter, Andrei Cherny, for a California state assembly seat -- a position that would include representing the San Fernando Valley. Cherny drafted the Democratic National Committee's platform on technology last year and wrote a book called "The Next Deal: The Future of Public Life in the Information Age." The primary for the race is March 5.
Meanwhile, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is targeting the seat that Rep. Jerry Weller, R-Ill., currently holds, according to the Chicago Tribune. Weller is the head of the New Economy Republicans, a group of about four-dozen House Republicans who focus on high-tech policy issues. Although no Democratic candidate has emerged, the DCCC hopes to find a high-profile candidate to oppose Weller, the Tribune reports.
High-Tech Administration Moves
President Bush said he intends to nominate Michael Toner to the Federal Election Commission. Toner currently is chief counsel to the Republican National Committee and was general counsel to the Bush/Cheney campaign and transition.
The FCC has appointed David Fiske as director of the office of media relations. Fiske has been acting director of the office since the beginning of the year. He has been at the FCC since April 1995, when he joined as deputy director of the FCC's former office of public affairs. Before that, he was a reporter for Warren Publications where he covered the FCC for Communications Daily and Television Digest.
Dale Hatfield, who was appointed by the FTC to watch over AOL Time Warner's compliance with a government deal on opening its network to competitors, has been named by the FCC to lead the inquiry of technical and operational issues affecting deployment of enhanced 911 services. The inquiry will evaluate information about technology workers, network equipment and handset manufacturers, carriers and the public safety community concerning technology standards issues, development of hardware and software and supply conditions.
Randall Lee was named regional director of the Security and Exchange Commission's Pacific regional office. He will join the SEC from the U.S. attorney's office in the central district of California, where he is deputy chief of the major frauds section in the criminal division.
Pamela Bates is the new executive secretary for the State Department's Advisory Committee on International Communications and Information Policy (ACICIP). She replaces Tim Finton, who will continue to handle European telecom issues. Bates said that she is a Foreign Service officer and joined State's bureau of economic and business affairs this past summer, where she handled Asia telecom issues. Bates also said the first meeting of ACICIP will be Jan. 10 at State.
Cecil Hunt, deputy chief counsel for the Commerce Department's Bureau of Export Administration, is leaving to join the law firm Harris, Wiltshire & Grannis in the position "of counsel" beginning Dec. 1. Hunt has advised the government on a wide range of international business matters since joining Commerce in 1979. Before that, he was general counsel of the Overseas Private Investment Corp.
The Internet Is Nobel
Cisco Systems hired Princeton Survey Research Associates to poll Nobel laureates on their thoughts regarding the future of the Internet. According to the study, 82 percent predict that the Internet will speed up innovation, and 72 percent believe the Internet will play a sizable role in improving living standards. The laureates also said that inadequate educational opportunities were among the major problems facing mankind.
Washing Out That Gray
The new Anti-Gray Market Alliance has named Compaq Computer Internal Audit Director Mari Myers as chairman and president. Formed in September, the alliance aims to stop the diversion of branded information technology products from proper distribution channels. 3Com Business Compliance Manager Deborah Lee was named treasurer and Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Computing Manager Janet McAllister was appointed secretary. Other board members include Cisco Systems World Wide Channels Director Stephen Troyer, Apple Channel Operations Program Manager Hanneke Cruz, and Xerox Supply Group Consumables Strategy Manager Donna DelMonte.
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