Wednesday August 22 10:54 PM ET

Clinton Foundation Raises $8.4M

By BRIAN SKOLOFF, Associated Press Writer

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - Donors gave $8.4 million last year to the foundation that is planning former President Clinton's presidential library, according to documents released Wednesday.

The William J. Clinton Presidential Foundation had $13.8 million in assets at the end of 2000, compared to $5.9 million in 1999. The 2000 figures were listed on a form the organization submitted to the Internal Revenue Service.

The figures do not include pledges, and the donors were not identified.

The foundation raised $3.1 million in 1999.

Congress is investigating whether library donations were linked to a number of last-moment presidential pardons, particularly that of fugitive financier Marc Rich. Rich's ex-wife, Denise, has donated $450,000 to the library foundation since 1998.

Rich, who fled the United States in 1983 rather than face racketeering and other criminal charges, was pardoned by Clinton on Jan. 20 - Clinton's last day in office.

Foundation President Skip Rutherford said more than 60,000 individuals gave $1,000 or less. By contrast, the SBC Foundation, the parent company of Southwestern Bell, donated $250,000.

Foreign contributors were among the donors.

``We did not take any foreign government contributions while President Clinton was in office, but certainly it is an area we will be focusing on in the future,'' Rutherford said.

The 27-acre Clinton Presidential Park will include a library, museum, policy center and the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service. The site is on the south bank of the Arkansas River in Little Rock.

The foundation's goal is $200 million for the library's construction and endowment. Construction is scheduled to begin later this year and finish in 2004.

One court challenge is pending. A landowner claims the city did not have authority to take his property through eminent domain to build the park. A court sided with the city, but landowner Eugene Pfeifer III appealed to the state Supreme Court.

-- Anonymous, August 23, 2001

Answers

A year or so ago I was so sure the Clintons were heading for bankruptcy. Wonder what ever gave me that silly idea.

-- Anonymous, August 23, 2001

Well, this isn't family finances, so they can't live on it, or pay their legal bills.

I'm routing for the landowner who is suing! If he loses, I can only hope that the Arkansas River overflows its banks and destroys the whole thing.

Talk about a scar on the face of the planet! We really don't need any library with his name on it. Maybe a prison, with him as the First Prisoner...

-- Anonymous, August 23, 2001

Yebbut, Brooks, you never in your wildest dreams thought an ex-president would make nearly half a mil from 8,000 Japanese prune extract saleswomen. Wonder how much he has in his checking account now?

-- Anonymous, August 23, 2001