HHS Aide Threatens to Quit

August 9, 1996

THE DAILY FED

HHS Aide Threatens to Quit

The bill President Clinton signed to overhaul the welfare system may have claimed its first victim, National Journal reports this week.

The morning after Clinton said he would sign the Republican-written measure, deputy assistant Health and Human Services secretary for planning and evaluation Wendell E. Primus called members of his staff together and announced that he could no longer work for the Clinton Administration. Primus got choked up and had a deputy finish his remarks of praise for his staff.

Primus later promised HHS higher-ups that he'd think things through again during a week-long vacation in Maine before submitting a letter of resignation.