Appointment of Merrie Spaeth as Special Assistant to the President and Director of the White House Office of Media Relations

The President today announced his intention to appoint Merrie Spaeth to be Special Assistant to the President and Director of the White House Office of Media Relations.

Since May 1982 Ms. Spaeth has been serving as Director of Public Affairs for the Federal Trade Commission in Washington, DC. Previously she was Special Assistant to the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Judge William H. Webster.

In 1979 she produced segments for ABC's weekly show, 20/20. In 1978 she was the host and producer of a nightly television show in Columbus, OH, for Warner-Amex Cable. Between 1970 and 1978, she wrote for numerous print publications and was a reporter for several local television stations. She also started her own cable production company.

Ms. Spaeth received her B.A. degree, with honors, from Smith College in 1970, and from the Columbia Graduate School of Business in 1980. She serves on the Alumnae Association's board of directors.

Ms. Spaeth was born August 23, 1948, in Philadelphia, PA. She now resides in Rosslyn, VA.