Miller would consider ambassador post

Tuesday, Sept. 16, 1997 | 9:16 a.m.

Miller, 52, a close friend of President Clinton, responded Monday to reports that he might be a candidate by saying he hasn't heard from the president regarding the ambassador's post.

But the Democratic governor added, "If the president asks you to do something, you certainly give it serious consideration."

Asked if he spoke Spanish, Miller said he doesn't - but noted that the former Mexico ambassador didn't either.

White House spokesman Eric Rubin said, "We don't know if this started on the Hill or with the National Governors Association, but it hasn't come from us. That's not to say we've ruled out considering (Miller). But no one is under consideration yet. We're starting from scratch."

U.S. Sen. Dick Bryan, D-Nev., said the talk about Miller may be more than mere rumor. "I would believe reports that the governor is being considered are highly credible. He's very close to the president," he said.

The departure of Miller would elevate Republican Lt. Gov. Lonnie Hammargren to the governorship - a party shift long considered taboo in Nevada politics.

Hammargren said someone not with the Democratic Party approached him about a party switch, "but I don't think that's a consideration."

He also made light of the prospect that Miller's chances could be undermined because Hammargren is a Republican. "If Miller doesn't want to go, I'd be glad to go as his substitute," he said, adding he'd even switch parties if Clinton would make him ambassador.

Miller press secretary Richard Urey said he can understand the speculation about Miller given the governor's longstanding interest in Mexico.

Urey also noted the governor opposes the use of marijuana for medical purposes. That issue contributed to Weld's troubles in pursuing the ambassador's job.

In addition to vacations in Mexico, the governor flew with Clinton last May to a three-day summit with Mexico's president. Miller was chairman of the National Governors Association at the time.

The governor also led a U.S. contingent, as chairman of the Western Governors Conference, to Mexico for talks with political and business leaders; and led a group of state leaders in 1995 to Mexico on an economic development mission.

He also encouraged his son Ross to attend a technology institute in Monterrey, Mexico, in 1994. Ross Miller put in a year there before shifting to Stanford.