Miller flattered, but timing wrong on Argentina ambassadorship

Tuesday, April 7, 1998 | 12:56 p.m.

But the Democratic governor is leaving the door open for other offers from the Clinton administration.

Miller said Monday that Clinton approached him about becoming ambassador to Argentina during a limousine ride they shared when the president was last in Las Vegas on March 18.

Because the ambassador's job is vacant, Miller said he would probably have had to be on the job in Argentina before Nevada elects a new governor in November.

Miller said he's still working on education reform as well as technology and transportation issues, and can accomplish these goals only if he remains as governor until his term ends in January.

The role of politics - turning the state over to Republican Lt. Gov. Lonnie Hammargren - was a secondary consideration, he said.

He waited a few days and discussed the job offer with his family before deciding against it. But he won't rule out leaving office early, if the right offer comes along.

"Any time the president asks me to do anything, I'll give it consideration," Miller said.

Would he be interested in the vacancy announced Monday with the decision of Energy Secretary Federico Pena to resign in June for personal and family reasons?

Miller just laughed. He has been fighting the placement of nuclear waste in Nevada for the more than nine years he's been in office, and the Energy Department deals with the problem of nuclear waste disposal.

When he was being considered by Clinton as a candidate for ambassador to Mexico, his 8-year-old daughter Megan was a bit cool to the idea. In December, Miller withdrew his name.

When Argentina became a possibility, he says Megan asked him, "If you go, do you have to stand on the balcony and sing 'Don't Cry For Me, Argentina'?"