Vince Foster facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Vince Foster
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|---|---|
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| Deputy White House Counsel | |
| In office January 20, 1993 – July 20, 1993 |
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| President | Bill Clinton |
| Preceded by | John P. Schmitz |
| Succeeded by | Joel Klein |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Vincent Walker Foster Jr.
January 15, 1945 Hope, Arkansas, U.S. |
| Died | July 20, 1993 (aged 48) Fairfax County, Virginia, U.S. |
| Spouse |
Elizabeth Braden
(m. 1968) |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | Davidson College (BA) University of Arkansas (JD) |
| Occupation | Attorney |
Vincent Walker Foster Jr. (born January 15, 1945 – died July 20, 1993) was an American lawyer. He worked as the Deputy White House Counsel for the first six months of President Bill Clinton's time in office.
Before working in the White House, Foster was a top lawyer at the Rose Law Firm in Little Rock, Arkansas. He was very successful there. However, he found working in politics at the White House very difficult. He became sad and struggled with depression. In July 1993, he was found dead in Fort Marcy Park.
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Early Life and Education
Vincent Foster was born in Hope, Arkansas. His parents were Vincent W. Foster Sr. and Alice Mae Foster. His father became a successful real estate developer. Vincent had two sisters named Sheila and Sharon.
Vincent was a childhood friend of Bill Clinton. Clinton lived near Foster's home with his grandparents. Clinton later remembered Foster being kind to him. Another childhood friend was Mack McLarty, who would later become a top White House official.
Foster was a great student and athlete. He was president of the student council at Hope High School. He graduated in 1963.
He went to Davidson College and earned a degree in psychology in 1967. His father wanted him to join the family business. But Foster decided to go to law school instead.
He first attended Vanderbilt University Law School. During the Vietnam War, he joined the Arkansas National Guard. This helped him avoid being drafted into the military. To be closer to his guard duties, he moved to the University of Arkansas School of Law. He was the managing editor of the school's law review. He graduated first in his class in 1971. He also scored the highest on the Arkansas bar exam.
Marriage and Family Life
Foster met Elizabeth Braden, also known as Lisa, while at Davidson College. They got married on April 20, 1968. They had three children: Vincent III, Laura, and John.
Career as a Lawyer
Working at Rose Law Firm
In 1971, Foster started working at the Rose Law Firm in Little Rock, Arkansas. By 1974, he became a partner. This was a big achievement.
He helped hire Hillary Rodham at the firm. She became the first female associate there. Foster and Rodham worked together on many cases. As Bill Clinton's political career grew, Foster supported him. They were also close friends. Foster even taught their daughter, Chelsea Clinton, how to swim.
Foster mainly practiced corporate law. He was known for preparing his cases very well. He became known as one of the best trial lawyers in Arkansas. Hillary Rodham Clinton called him "one of the best lawyers I've ever known." Bill Clinton described him as "a tall, handsome, wise, good man."
He seemed to have only success at Rose Law Firm. The firm grew much larger while he was there. The Arkansas Bar Association gave him several awards. In June 1993, they named him their Outstanding Lawyer of the Year.
By 1992, Vincent Foster was at the very top of the legal world in Arkansas. He was also an important person in Little Rock society.
Working at the White House
After Bill Clinton won the 1992 election, Foster joined Clinton's team. In early 1993, he became the Deputy White House Counsel. This was a big job, even though Foster was not eager to leave his life in Little Rock.
He worked under the main White House Counsel, Bernard W. Nussbaum. Two other partners from Rose Law Firm also joined him in Washington. Foster lived in a small rented house in Georgetown. His wife and youngest son stayed in Arkansas for a while.
Foster found it hard to adjust to life in Washington politics. He had no experience with political campaigns. His first job was checking the backgrounds of people who might work for the government. He found this work very stressful. He felt responsible for some early problems with appointments.
As Deputy Counsel, Foster also worked on many other important tasks. These included preparing official orders and looking at international agreements. He also helped manage the Clintons' money. He worked long hours, often six or seven days a week. He started to lose weight.
Struggling with Depression
Foster began to struggle with depression. He was very upset about some critical news articles written about him. He disliked being in the public spotlight. He also had trouble sleeping and continued to lose weight.
He thought about leaving his job but worried about feeling ashamed if he returned to Arkansas. His doctor in Arkansas prescribed him medicine for depression. The next day, on July 20, 1993, Foster was found dead in Fort Marcy Park. He was 48 years old.
His funeral was held in Little Rock. Bill Clinton gave a speech, remembering their childhood together. Foster was buried in Memory Gardens Cemetery in his hometown of Hope. He was survived by his wife and three children.
His Legacy
Many people believe Foster's death changed the mood of the White House staff. It was a very sad event for them. White House Chief of Staff Mack McLarty, Foster's childhood friend, said it was "a deep cut."
Foster's death also affected the Rose Law Firm. Many people there had expected him to become the firm's leader when he returned from Washington.
Since 1993, the Vince Foster, Jr. Outstanding Lawyer Award has been given out each year. It honors lawyers who have helped the legal profession. A special teaching position at the University of Arkansas School of Law was also created in his name. It is called the Vincent Foster University Professor of Legal Ethics and Professional Responsibility.
