Fact Sheet VIII

Supporting Women as Partners in Decision Making

"Women are beginning to participate more fully throughout this country in the life of America. As far as I know, the sky is not falling anywhere." President Clinton August 26, 1995

The Baltimore Sun noted that President Clinton has delivered on his promise to make diverse appointments: "No Administration has ever produced such diversity."

Appointing Women throughout the Administration

• More than 40 percent of the President's appointees are women, by far the highest percentage of any Administration.
• Six women hold Cabinet-level posts, the highest ever.
• The President has appointed the first woman to serve as deputy chief of staff.
• The President has appointed women for the first time to such positions as: Attorney General, Chair of the Council of Economic Advisors, Secretary of Energy and Office of Management and Budget Director.
• The President has appointed women to positions traditionally held by men, such as: Chief Scientist at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration; and Deputy Director at the National Science Foundation.
• Nearly 60 percent of the President's judicial nominees are women and minorities, highest proportion ever.
• The President nominated a woman to the Supreme Court, only the second president to have done so.
• Two out of the three policy-making councils in the White House are headed by women.

Providing Expanded Opportunities for Women in the Military
The Clinton Administration has opened nearly 260,000 positions previously not open to women who wish to serve in the military.

Responding to the Needs of Older Women
President Clinton established an initiative at the Department of Health and Human Services, spearheaded by the Assistant Secretary for Aging, to bring focus to issues affecting older women and their families at the grassroots level through education, technical assistance and advocacy. The major areas of focus for this effort include income security, health, care giving, housing and prevention of crime violence. The centerpiece of the initiative is the National Policy and Resource Center on Women and Aging, designed to serve as a focal point for coordinating efforts to facilitate the initiative's goals.

Convened White House Conference on Aging
President Clinton convened a White House Conference on Aging which provided specific recommendations for improving the lives of older women. These recommendations will be incorporated into the final report of the Conference which will be presented to the President and Congress for legislative and administrative action.

Created Interagency Council on Women
The President established an intra-governmental body to bring home the agreements reached at the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women to benefit American women and their families. Housed at the White House, the council is charged with coordinating the implementation of the Conference Platform for Action.

Making Sure Women Are Heard
The White House Office for Women's Initiatives and Outreach was created by the President to ensure that his Administration better serves and listens to women. It serves as the primary liaison between the White House and women's organizations, listening to women's concerns and proposals and bringing these ideas to the President and others in the Administration.

Office of Women's Initiatives and Outreach. Phone: 202 456-7300; Fax: 202 456-7311

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