Lockhart leaves Oracle

May 24, 2001
Web posted at: 2225 GMT

NEW YORK (CNNfn) -- Just six months after joining the senior management team of software maker Oracle, former White House press secretary Joe Lockhart has left the company.

An Oracle spokeswoman confirmed reports that Lockhart, who joined Oracle as its public relations chief in November, has resigned his position with the Silicon Valley firm, which is the No. 2 supplier of computer software behind Microsoft.

A report in Thursday's edition of the New York Post, citing unnamed sources, said Lockhart's departure was prompted after he clashed with Oracle CEO Larry Ellison.

	Joe Lockhart has resigned his post as public relations chief at software maker Oracle.

Lockhart denied any friction with Ellison.

"The idea that we didn't get along is ridiculous," Lockhart told CNNfn. He said he "loved" working with Ellison and he wouldn't rule out returning to the firm in the future.

Lockhart, who served under former President Bill Clinton, served as the White House press secretary from 1998 until he stepped down from that post in September 2000.

During his tenure at the White House, Lockhart took center stage in the controversy surrounding Clinton's sexual relationship with former White House intern Monica Lewinsky and his subsequent impeachment.

He also came to the former president's aide after he left office and came under fire for several eleventh-hour presidential pardons, the most controversial being one he gave to fugitive financier Marc Rich.

Shares of Oracle (ORCL: up $0.47 to $17.30, Research, Estimates)  edged higher in early afternoon Nasdaq trade Thursday.

Oracle taps ex
Nov. 28, 2000

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