For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
October 13, 2004

Statement by the Press Secretary

National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice announced today the appointment of Robert L. Wilkie as Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Legislative Affairs, effective August 4, 2004.

Prior to joining the National Security Council staff, Mr. Wilkie was Counsel and Foreign Policy Advisor to the Senate Majority Leader, the Honorable Trent Lott from 1997-2003. He spent a year as Legislative Director for Representative David Funderburk (R-NC). From 1988-1994, he was Counsel to Senator Jesse A. Helms.

Mr. Wilkie is an officer in the United States Navy Reserve and has served at the Office of Naval Intelligence, Naval Special Warfare Group Two, Joint Forces Intelligence Command and Atlantic Intelligence Command. He is a graduate of the College of Naval Command and Staff and the United States Army War College.

# # #