From: John King/CNN
In: Washington
Posted 8-8-97

Subject: Clinton, Gephardt Plan Joint Fund-Raisers

White House aides say the president has no reservations about raising money next week alongside House Democratic leader Dick Gephardt of Missouri, despite several recent Gephardt policy feuds with the administration.

But senior Gephardt advisers say planning for the visit is not going smoothly. The two leaders were scheduled to appear together at two events next week: a welfare-to-work event and a lunch hour Democratic fund-raiser. But as of this morning, the White House had not included Gephardt on the speaking program for either event.

Gephardt advisers say they protested this "oversight" to senior Clinton adviser Rahm Emanuel and other White House aides and were awaiting a response.

Gephardt opposed the balanced budget agreement and also is a critic of the president's plans to expand the North American Free Trade Agreement. And he voted against the GOP-drafted welfare reform law that Clinton signed last year.

One administration official said it was likely that Gephardt would be added to the fund-raising program.