On April 17, 1995, James R. Norman, Senior Editor at Forbes Magazine, sent the following letter to Michael D. McCurry, Press Secretary at the White house: "Dear Mr. McCurry: "Forbes Magazine is preparing an article for immediate publication. We would like to offer the White House an opportunity to comment on the following assertions. "1.) That Vincent W. Foster, while White House Deputy Counsel, maintained a Swiss bank account. "2.) That funds were paid into that account by a foreign government, specifically the State of Israel. "3.) That shortly before his death and coincident with the onset of severe and acute depression, Vincent Foster learned he was under investigation by the CIA for espionage. "4.) That this information was made available to him by Hillary Rodham Clinton. "5.) That while he was White House Deputy Counsel and for many years prior, Vincent Foster had been a behind-the- scenes control person on behalf of the National Security Agency for Systematics, a bank data processing company integrally involved in a highly secret intelligence effort to monitor world bank transactions. "6.) That Systematics was also involved in 'laundering' funds from covert operations, including drug and arms sales related to activities in and around Mena, Ark. "7.) That through Systematics' relationship with E-Systems, Vincent Foster may have had access to highly sensitive code, encryption and data security information of strategic importance. "8.) That both prior to and after his death, documents relating to Systematics were removed from Vincent Foster's office in the White House. "9.) That the meeting at the Cardozo (Landau) estate on the eastern shore of Maryland on the weekend before Vincent Foster's death was attended by, among others, George Stephanopolous. "10.) That Hillary Rodham Clinton was also a beneficiary of funds from Foster's Swiss account. "Thank you very much for your prompt attention to this matter. Please fax your written response before end-of-business Tuesday, April 18, to Forbes at 212-620-2417. If you have questions, please call me at 212-620-2215. "Respectfully yours, "James R. Norman, Senior Editor" The White House did not respond until April 25, 1995. However, on April 20, 1995, a copy of this letter was leaked by White House counsel to Mark H. Tuohey III, an assistant to Kenneth Starr, a prosecutor leading an "independent"; investigation of events related to Whitewater. Why was the letter forwarded to a Starr assistant? Did the White House have reason to believe that the death of Vincent Foster was related to Whitewater? Was the letter forwarded to Mark Tuohey so that he could investigate and comment on the allegations in the letter? Or was the letter leaked to Mark Tuohey by the White House because Tuohey is the White House point man for spin control with respect to any evidence "uncovered" by the investigation? On April 25, 1995, Michael D. McCurry replied as follows: "Dear Mr. Norman "This letter responds to your April 17, 1995 request. "The allegations contained in your request are outrageous. Publication of these false allegations will discredit Forbes, maliciously tarnish the reputation of Vincent Foster, and cause great pain to Mr. Foster's wife and family. "Should Forbes insist on publishing these baseless allegations, we insist that the Editor of Forbes have a pre- publication meeting with Jane Sherburne of the White House Counsel's Office and the personal representative of the President and First Lady, David E. Kendall of Williams & Connolly. Ms. Sherburne can be reached at (202) 456-5116 and Mr. Kendall's number is (202) 434-5145. "Sincerely, "Michael D. McCurry Press Secretary "cc: Mr. James W. Michaels Editor, Forbes Mr. Lawrence Minard Managing Editor, Forbes Mr. William Baldwin Executive Editor, Forbes" [to be continued] First Posted to the Internet July 1, 1995