TNAG-2469-FCO40-3593-Most-favoured-nation-status-for-China-Hong-Kong-interests-1992 — Page 135

From:

Date:

Mr Meyer

cc:

PS

J N Powell

19 November 1992

Mr Marsden

Mr Peretz

Mr Ralph

Mr Saunders

Mr Browne

Mr Torry

Mr Thomas

Mr Vinall

By fax:

Mr Pellew, NAD, FCO Mr Holdich, RAD, FCO

CLINTON:

1.

TRANSITION

We saw

Richard Ralph and I visited Little Rock on 18 November. a number of the key players including Betsey Wright (formerly Clinton's Chief of Staff), Nancy Soderberg (Foreign Policy), Al From (Domestic Policy), Bruce Reed (formerly Issues Director and Speech Writer), Gene Sperling (Economic Deputy), Judy Feder (Healthcare), John Emerson (Economic Retreat), Mickey Kantor and Bob Boorstin. The place was fairly chaotic. It is striking how many people in the Clinton team have close ties to the UK. atmosphere was decidedly anglophile and we were allowed almost unfettered access.

Transition

2. The majority of the clusters have been decided but the lists are being kept open to allow the addition of women and minorities. The names should be available by Friday. There will be nine

clusters covering: White House; National Security; trade and economics; Transport, Science, Technology and Communications; HHS and HUD; Justice, Civil Rights and Crime; Natural Resources; and Education and Labour. The clusters, which would largely be made up of volunteers, would audit departments, cataloguing landmines ahead. They would report to Mark Gearan and Alexis Herman in Washington. In principle, policy would remain with the teams already named by Clinton, Cabinet personnel would belong to Clinton and Sub Cabinet personnel came under Dick Riley. The lines would inevitably become blurred as time went on, and once Cabinet Secretaries were named the clusters and policy teams would disappear in early January. Power seems to be shifting gradually to Washington. Warren Christopher and George Stephanopolous seem to be the key power brokers. Kantor has largely been side lined.

Government Organisation

3.

The Clinton team is not going to attempt a general restructuring of government departments before assuming power, although there will be reorganisation within departments (eg creating new Assistant Secretaries in the State Department).

They

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