Hershel W. Gober

infobox US Cabinet official
name=Hershel Wayne Gober


order=Acting
title=United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs
term_start=July 25, 2000
term_end=January 20, 2001DeArmond-Huskey, Rebecca. [http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=878 Monticello (Drew County)] . Encyclopedia of Arkansas. 2007-07-03. Accessed 2008-01-15.]
president=Bill Clinton
predecessor=Togo D. West, Jr.
successor=Anthony J. Principi
term_start2 = July 1, 1997Staff reporter. [http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1997/06/07/clinton.brown/ Veterans Affairs Chief Steps Down After Four Years] . 1997-06-07. CNN. Accessed 2008-01-15. "Veterans Affairs Secretary Jesse Brown plans to leave his post July 1, and President Bill Clinton accepted the resignation Saturday "with deep regret."]
term_end2 = January 2, 1998cite press release |title=President Clinton Names Togo D. West, Jr. As Acting Secretary Of The Department Of Veterans' Affairs |publisher=White House |date= 1997-12-02 |url=http://clinton6.nara.gov/1997/12/1997-12-02-togo-west-named-acting-secretary-at-veterans-affairs.html |format= |language= |accessdate=2008-01-15 |quote=The President today announced the appointment of Togo D. West, Jr., as Acting Secretary of Veterans' Affairs; the appointment will be effective January 2, 1998.]
predecessor2 = Jesse Brown
successor2 = Togo D. West, Jr.small|, act.
order3 = United States Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs
term_start3 = February 4, 1993US Department of Veterans Affairs. [http://www.appc1.va.gov/pressrel/gober.htm The Honorable Hershel W. Gober] . July 2000. Accessed 2008-01-15.]
term_end3 = August 10, 2000cite press release |title=Ned Powell Named Acting VA Deputy Secretary |publisher=US Department of Veterans Affairs |date= 2000-08-10 |url=http://www1.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=207 |format= |language= |accessdate=2008-01-15 |quote=President Clinton has appointed Edward A. (Ned) Powell, Jr., as the Acting Deputy Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Powell, currently VAs Assistant Secretary for Financial Management, will fill the position held by Hershel W. Gober, who was named Acting VA Secretary.]
president3 = Bill Clinton
primeminister3 =
predecessor3 = Anthony J. Principi
successor3 = Edward A. "Ned" Powell, Jr.small|, act.
order4 = Director of the Arkansas Department of Veterans Affairs
term_start4 = January 4, 1988
term_end4 = February 4, 1993
predecessor4 = Unknown
successor4 = Unknown
birth_date = birth date and age|1936|12|21
birth_place = Monticello, Arkansas
death_date =
death_place =
party = Democrat
spouse = Mary Lou Keener
profession = Soldier, Public servant
footnotes =

Hershel Wayne Gober (born December 21, 1936) is a former government official and Vietnam War veteran. He served as acting United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) on two occasions during the administration of Bill Clinton. The first occasion to serve as Acting Secretary was from July 1, 1997 until January 2, 1998 between the resignation of Secretary Jesse Brown and confirmation of Acting Secretary Togo D. West, Jr. The second time to serve as Acting Secretary came on July 25, 2000 and lasted until January 20, 2001 after the resignation of Secretary West; this time Gober served in the post until the end of the Clinton presidency.

He started out in the VA as Deputy Secretary, serving from February 4, 1993 until August 10, 2000. Gober was also briefly Secretary-designate, when Clinton named him on July 31, 1997U.S. Senate. [http://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/briefing/Nominations.htm#10 Chapter 10: Cabinet Nominations Rejected or Withdrawn] Accessed 24 December 2007.] to replace Jesse Brown. However, the nomination was withdrawn before Senate action on October 27 the same year. This happened because of fears nomination hearings for Gober would become heated due to questions about a 1993 claim of sexual misconduct made against him; [Rosenbaum, David E. [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B04E0DE1F3EF936A15753C1A961958260 Clinton Withdraws Nomination For Secretary of Veterans Affairs] . New York Times. 1997-10-25. Accessed 2007-12-25. "In confirmation hearings, the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs intended to explore circumstances surrounding the exoneration of Mr. Gober after he was accused of sexual misconduct in 1993, a Congressional staff member said tonight."] he also wished to stay as Deputy Secretary. [Rosenbaum, David E. [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B04E0DE1F3EF936A15753C1A961958260 Clinton Withdraws Nomination For Secretary of Veterans Affairs] . New York Times. 1997-10-25. Accessed 2007-12-25. "Mr. Gober said he preferred to remain as Deputy Secretary, and Mr. Clinton said he regretted Mr. Gober's decision not to pursue the nomination."]

During his tenure Gober played an important role in the Clinton (to whom he was a close and longtime aide) era VA. He headed a delegation traveled to Vietnam to seek the fullest possible accounting of missing veterans.Clinton, Bill. [http://clinton6.nara.gov/2000/07/2000-07-10-remarks-by-the-president.html Remarks by the President, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Togo West, and Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs Hershel Gober] . July 10, 2000. Accessed 2007-12-25. " A few years ago, I was honored that he agreed to head a delegation back to Vietnam to seek the fullest possible accounting of our men and women still missing in uniform. Hershel has already made his mark on the critical issue of veterans' health care. Early in our administration, he came to me and recommended that we look for ways to bring health care closer to the veterans who needed it. Since then, we've opened more than 200 out-patient clinics all across America and have more planned this year. That's one of the big reasons we were able to treat -- listen to this -- 400,000 more veterans last year than we did the year before."] He was also active in improving health care and expanding clinics for veterans.

Before serving in the VA, Gober was Director of the Arkansas Department of Veterans Affairs from January 4, 1988 to February 4, 1993 during President Clinton's tenure as Governor.cite press release | title=President Clinton Names Hershel Gober as Secretary of the Department of Veterans' Affairs | publisher=White House |date= 1997-07-03 |url=http://clinton6.nara.gov/1997/07/1997-07-03-president-names-gober-secretary-of-veterans-affairs.html |format= |language= | accessdate=2007-12-25 | quote=Prior to his appointment as Deputy Secretary, he served as State Director of Veterans' Affairs in Arkansas under then-Governor Clinton.]

External links

* [http://www.appc1.va.gov/pressrel/gober.htm Department of Veterans Affairs biography of Acting Secretary Gober]
* [http://www.millercenter.virginia.edu/academic/americanpresident/clinton/essays/cabinet/715 Profile at American President: An Online Reference Resource]

References