Hershel_W._Gober
Hershel Gober
American politician
Hershel Wayne Gober (born December 21, 1936[1]) is a former government official and Vietnam War veteran. He served as acting United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) on two occasions during the administration of Bill Clinton: first from July 1, 1997,[2] until January 2, 1998,[3] between the resignation of Secretary Jesse Brown and the appointment of Togo D. West Jr. as acting secretary, and the second time from July 25, 2000,[4] until January 20, 2001,[1] after the resignation of Secretary West; this time Gober served in the post until the end of the Clinton presidency.
He started out in the VA as deputy secretary, serving from February 4, 1993,[4] until August 10, 2000.[5] Gober was also briefly secretary-designate, when Clinton named him on July 31, 1997,[6] to replace Jesse Brown. However, the nomination was withdrawn before Senate action on October 27 the same year[6] because of fears that nomination hearings for Gober would become heated due to questions about a 1993 claim of sexual misconduct made against him;[7] he also wished to stay as Deputy Secretary.[8]
During his tenure Gober, as a close and longtime aide, played an important role in the Clinton-era VA.[2] He headed a delegation that traveled to Vietnam to seek the fullest possible accounting of missing veterans.[9] He was also active in improving health care and expanding clinics for veterans.[9]
Before serving in the VA, Gober was director of the Arkansas Department of Veterans Affairs from January 4, 1988,[1] to February 4, 1993,[1] during Clinton's tenure as governor.[10]