Stuart M. Gerson
Encyclopedia
Stuart M. Gerson was the acting Attorney General
(AG) during the Clinton Administration
, serving in the early months of 1993.
Gerson was a debate coach for President George H. W. Bush
during the 1988 campaign. He went on to serve on President-elect Bush's transition
team. Gerson was part of the Bush Administration's
National Health Policy Working Group serving as head of its Medical Malpractice
Reform Working Group. At the Department of Justice, he was the Assistant Attorney General
for the Civil Division
.
Gerson was Acting Attorney General from January 20, 1993 to March 12, 1993. He was in the position for two reasons. The first reason was due to President Clinton's problems in finding an Attorney General during this period. The other reason for Gerson's service as Acting AG was due to being fourth in the line of succession at the Justice Department (other senior DOJ officials had already resigned). During his time as Acting AG, Gerson supported the Brady bill
and was in office in the beginnings of the Waco siege
. Janet Reno
, President Clinton's nominee for Attorney General, was confirmed on March 12, and he resigned the same day. Acting Attorney General Gerson's last day at the Justice Department was March 19.
He was also a member of President George W. Bush
's transition team.
United States Attorney General
The United States Attorney General is the head of the United States Department of Justice concerned with legal affairs and is the chief law enforcement officer of the United States government. The attorney general is considered to be the chief lawyer of the U.S. government...
(AG) during the Clinton Administration
Presidency of Bill Clinton
The United States Presidency of Bill Clinton, also known as the Clinton Administration, was the executive branch of the federal government of the United States from January 20, 1993 to January 20, 2001. Clinton was the first Democratic president since Franklin D. Roosevelt to win a second full term...
, serving in the early months of 1993.
Gerson was a debate coach for President George H. W. Bush
George H. W. Bush
George Herbert Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 41st President of the United States . He had previously served as the 43rd Vice President of the United States , a congressman, an ambassador, and Director of Central Intelligence.Bush was born in Milton, Massachusetts, to...
during the 1988 campaign. He went on to serve on President-elect Bush's transition
United States presidential transition
A presidential transition or presidential interregnum refers to the period of time between the end of a presidential election and the inauguration of a new President of a country...
team. Gerson was part of the Bush Administration's
George H. W. Bush
George Herbert Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 41st President of the United States . He had previously served as the 43rd Vice President of the United States , a congressman, an ambassador, and Director of Central Intelligence.Bush was born in Milton, Massachusetts, to...
National Health Policy Working Group serving as head of its Medical Malpractice
Medical malpractice
Medical malpractice is professional negligence by act or omission by a health care provider in which the treatment provided falls below the accepted standard of practice in the medical community and causes injury or death to the patient, with most cases involving medical error. Standards and...
Reform Working Group. At the Department of Justice, he was the Assistant Attorney General
United States Assistant Attorney General
Many of the divisions and offices of the United States Department of Justice are headed by an Assistant Attorney General.The President of the United States appoints individuals to the position of Assistant Attorney General with the advice and consent of the Senate...
for the Civil Division
United States Department of Justice Civil Division
The United States Department of Justice Civil Division represents the United States, its departments and agencies, Members of Congress, Cabinet officers and other Federal employees...
.
Gerson was Acting Attorney General from January 20, 1993 to March 12, 1993. He was in the position for two reasons. The first reason was due to President Clinton's problems in finding an Attorney General during this period. The other reason for Gerson's service as Acting AG was due to being fourth in the line of succession at the Justice Department (other senior DOJ officials had already resigned). During his time as Acting AG, Gerson supported the Brady bill
Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act
The Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act is an Act of the United States Congress that, for the first time, instituted federal background checks on firearm purchasers in the United States....
and was in office in the beginnings of the Waco siege
Waco Siege
The Waco siege began on February 28, 1993, and ended violently 50 days later on April 19. The siege began when the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms attempted to execute a search warrant at the Branch Davidian ranch at Mount Carmel, a property located east-northeast of Waco,...
. Janet Reno
Janet Reno
Janet Wood Reno is a former Attorney General of the United States . She was nominated by President Bill Clinton on February 11, 1993, and confirmed on March 11...
, President Clinton's nominee for Attorney General, was confirmed on March 12, and he resigned the same day. Acting Attorney General Gerson's last day at the Justice Department was March 19.
He was also a member of President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
's transition team.