President Clinton Monday announced that Veterans' Affairs Secretary West will step down by the end of the month, and that Deputy Secretary Hershel Gober will be named acting secretary in his place.
West's announcement comes almost one year to the day after he first announced he would not serve until the end of the administration.
A former lobbyist, West also served as Army secretary during the Clinton administration.
"Every day, in every way, Togo West has given his all to make sure America does right by our men and women who have served us in uniform," Clinton said.
Gober was state director of veterans affairs in Arkansas when Clinton was governor there. He previously served as acting VA Secretary between the tenures of Jesse Brown and West.
Gober is a veteran of both the Army and the Marine Corps, and served two tours of duty in Vietnam.
"There are few people in our country who have ever been as prepared for a job as Hershel Gober is for this one," Clinton said.
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