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Clinton Selects Admiral to Lead Forces in Pacific

Clinton Selects Admiral to Lead Forces in Pacific
Credit...The New York Times Archives
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July 2, 1994, Section 1, Page 8Buy Reprints
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President Clinton has nominated Vice Adm. Richard Macke to be commander of United States forces in the Pacific, the Pentagon said today.

A week ago, the Navy withdrew the name of the previous nominee, Adm. Stanley R. Arthur, after objections arose in Congress over his handling of a sexual harassment case.

Admiral Macke had already been nominated to take Admiral Arthur's place as vice chief of staff in the Navy, and his paperwork is already before Congress. If Admiral Macke is confirmed, he will become a four-star admiral.

One reason Navy officials cited for withdrawing Admiral Arthur's name was the potential for a delay in filling the Pacific post, which could be critical because of the tension in relations with North Korea over its potential nuclear arsenal.

Admiral Macke, 56, is a veteran of more than 150 combat missions in Vietnam and was commander of the aircraft carrier Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Senator Dave Durenberger, Republican of Minnesota, had threatened to delay Senate confirmation of Admiral Arthur because of a sexual harassment case involving a Navy officer from Minnesota.

Lieut. Rebecca Hansen, 28, filed the complaint last year against her instructor in helicopter flight training in Corpus Christi, Tex. The officer was disciplined and later left the Navy. But in the meantime, Lieutenant Hansen was ordered to undergo a psychiatric evaluation. She later failed the Navy helicopter pilot school in Pensacola, Fla.

Admiral Arthur reviewed the failing grade and affirmed it.

Mr. Durenberger said he did not object to Admiral Arthur's decision but was not satisfied with the Navy's response to his questions about why Lieut. Hansen had been put through the psychiatric evaluation, said an aide to the Senator, Rick Evans. Mr. Durenberger said he was also concerned that the Navy had not adequately explored the possibility that her failing grade was tied to her filing the sexual harassment complaint.

The Navy's action raised eyebrows among many senior officers, who contended that Admiral Arthur, who played an important role in the war in the Persian Gulf, had been treated unfairly.

But even Defense Secretary William J. Perry said that while he had the chance to intervene on Admiral Arthur's behalf, he chose not to do so.

A version of this article appears in print on  , Section 1, Page 8 of the National edition with the headline: Clinton Selects Admiral to Lead Forces in Pacific. Order Reprints | Today’s Paper | Subscribe

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