Did Clinton ever make a recess appointment?

[CTyankee]

If he ever did, I expect the Republicans will throw that at us. Or have they given up their "Clinton did it too" mantra?

[terrya]

1. Yes.

Clinton appointed James Hormel, a gay man, as ambassador to Luxembourg. Recess appointment.

[Arkansas Granny]

2. According to this he did.

How Often Have Recent Presidents Made Recess Appointments?
President William J. Clinton made 139 recess appointments during his eight years
in office, 95 to full-time positions. During his first six years in office, President George
W. Bush made 167 recess appointments, of which 101 were to full-time positions.2

http://www.senate.gov/reference/resources/pdf/RS21308.pdf

[Nite Owl]

3. He did

http://209.85.165.104/search?q=cache:MBP7E3DcRREJ:www.senate.gov/reference/resources/pdf/RS21308.pdf+clinton+recess+appointments&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=us


President William J. Clinton made 139 recess appointments during his eight yearsin office, 95 to full-time positions. During his first six years in office, President GeorgeW. Bush made 167 recess appointments, of which 101 were to full-time positions

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

4. Many.

But he never appointed anybody who made a name for themselves by slandering a war hero.

[DefenseLawyer]

5. Clinton made several

Recess appointments aren't in themselves bad. If you need a position filled and Congress is going to be gone for their 4 month summer recess or an extended period of time, a recess appointment makes sense. I would be interested to see if any recess appointments have ever been made on "easter break" before.

[onenote]

11. In answer to your question, yes recess appointments have been made on easter break

http://fpc.state.gov/documents/organization/50801.pdf

As you will see, intrasession recess appointments during holiday breaks or vacation breaks are not uncommon. Clinton made several recess appointments in April 1996 and chimpy has done it several times.

[madeline_con]

15. From the file.....

"This conception of the recess appointment power as a practical accommodation is supported by the fact that until the Civil War, Congress consistently met for relatively short sessions followed
by long recesses of six to nine months.8 This pattern largely adhered during and after
the Civil War, with Congress scheduling an intrasession recess of approximately two
weeks from the end of December until the beginning of January.9 The recess practices
of Congress changed in the mid-twentieth century, and are now characterized by
more frequent recesses of relatively short duration within sessions of a Congress.
Adjournments between sessions are also shorter."


Apparently, DUH-bya is using a one week recess to appooint an ambassador. It's not in keeping with the original intent of the law.

[solara]

6. Did Clinton ever make a recess appointment of someone after withdrawing

their nomination because he knew Congress would not confirm him/her?

INVESTIGATE IMPEACH INDICT IMPRECATE INCARCERATE IMPALE INCINERATE :patriot:

[onenote]

10. not exactly, but...

Clinton used a recess appointment to get around the fact that the Senate Judiciary Committee was refusing to take up Bill Lan Lee's nomination to the Justice Dept. He also used a recess appointment to get around the fact that the repub leadership was refusing to schedule a confirmation vote for James Hormel to an ambassadorship. In neither case was the nomination withdrawn, but the nominations weren't going anywhere either.

[solara]

12. Thanks for answering, unfortunately it seems like the Fox recess appointment is really

just business as usual... sad.



INVESTIGATE IMPEACH INDICT IMPRECATE INCARCERATE IMPALE INCINERATE :patriot:

[chaska]

7. Reagan made 240 recess appointments.

...jackass bastard.

[LiberalFighter]

8. Of course Clinton and I bet every President has BUT this one may be illegal

This sets out the parameters allowed for recess appointments.

[onenote]

9. 139 to be exact

Fewer than chimpy, but not an insignificant number.

Reagan made 243; poppa bush made 77 and carter made around 70 (one four year term).

The issue with Fox isn't the use of the recess appointment power in general, its the use of it for a nominee whose nomination was withdrawn.

Clinton, it should be noted, did make some controversial recess appointments. Bill Lan Lee was appointed to a position at the Justice Department after the Senate Judiciary Committee stalled on taking up his nomination. And James Hormel was given a recess appointment to an ambassadorship after he was approved by the Foreign Relations COmmittee, but the repub senate leadership refused to schedule a vote on the Senate floor.

[Gabi Hayes]

14. the only reason those two you mention were 'controversial' is that the MEDIA

jumped on the wingnut 'faux outrage' bandwagon and trumped up the stories about Hormel and Lee, the former because he was GAY, and the latter because he was too LIBERAL. two CLEAR cases of Swifboating, pure and simple.

what a joke

[City67]

13. an excellent thread

Thanks to everyone for the relevant information.