Key Clinton Adviser Quits

August 29, 1996

THE DAILY FED

Key Clinton Adviser Quits

President Clinton's top political adviser, Dick Morris, resigned today amid controversy over a published tabloid report he had a relationship with a prostitute and allowed her to listen in on calls he made to the White House. Morris issued a statement saying he resigned "so I will not become the issue" in the presidential campaign. As for the allegations, Morris said: "I will not subject my wife, family or friends to this sadistic vitriol of yellow journalism. I will not dignify such journalism with a reply or an answer. I never will." White House Press Secretary Michael McCurry said the resignation was voluntary and issued a statement in which Clinton said, "Dick Morris is my friend." As for the allegations, McCurry said, "You've got to consider the source."

The resignation comes at an inopportune time for the president, who will give his nomination acceptance speech tonight at the Democratic National Convention. According to the New York Post, which based its reporting on a story in the Star, Morris showed Sherry Rowlands, a recently retired $200-an-hour escort with whom the paper said Morris was having an affair, copies of the speeches First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton and Vice President Al Gore would deliver at the convention two days before they spoke. The paper also said Morris referred to Clinton as "the Monster" because of his temper and called the first lady "the Twister," citing her tendency to stir things up.