Memorandum 

Date: September 30, 1993  
To: Senator Dole  
From: Alec Vachon (initialed)
Re: Gary Blumenthal/President's Comm.  on  Mental Retardation  

	Gary Blumenthal, former Johnson County State Representative, started Monday as Executive Director of PCMR. Photo caption on attached KC Star clip states he is to "become one of President Clinton's chief advisers on issues relating to the developmentally disabled." Might this be overstated? Blumenthal campaigned for job of Commissioner, Administration on Developmental Disabilities, in HHS, but was passed over for Bob Williams of United Cerebral Palsy. 

	Spoke with Blumenthal this morning welcoming him to Washington; had a good relationship with Mo. I will meet with him on October 12th. Wants to reinvigorate PCMR -- very timely -- for past 10 years PCMR has been moribund. Although unwilling to initiate action, Harkin's people would have supported a move to eliminate it. May recommend to Blumenthal that PCMR be a "think tank" on federal law -- for example, as I wrote you on July 30th regarding reauthorization of Developmental Disabilities Assistance Act, there was no independent evaluation of this law and no real basis to propose changes, although widespread feeling its programs ineffective. Incidentally, in June 1991, you introduced a joint resolution designating 1991 as PCMR's 25th anniversary year; this measure died. 

	Attached is a note of congratulations to Blumenthal for your approval and signature. 

(page 2)

(faded senate seal logo)

BOB DOLE 
UNITED STATES SENATE 

September 30, 1993 

Dear Mr. Blumenthal, 

	Congratulations on your appointment as Executive Director of the President's Committee on Mental Retardation. I know you bring personal experience and commitment to improving the lives of our fellow Americans with developmental disabilities, and I wish you the very best in your new endeavor. 

	If I or my Legislative Assistant for Disability Policy, Dr. Alexander Vachon, can be helpful in any way, please let me know. 

Sincerely,

(signature)
BOB DOLE

 
Mr. Gary Blumenthal
President's Committee on
Mental Retardation
330 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Room 5325
Washington, D.C. 20201 

(page 3)
(newspaper photograph of man in glasses and business suit)
(photocopy of newspaper clipping contains cut off text)

Gary Blumenthal, a Merriam Democrat, announced at a statehouse Tuesday that he was resigning his seat in the Kansas House to become Clinton's chief advisers on issues relating to the developmentally (disabled) [...] legislative career, Blumenthal has been a constant advocam for the m [...]

Kansas legisla [...]
Continued from C-1 

[...] state government."
	In his new position, Blumenthal will be one ofthe president's chief advisers on issues relating to the developmentally disabled. He will oversee a staff of 10. 
	One of his chief goals will be to help states reform their programs for [...]