Whitewater independent counsel Robert Fiske has subpoenaed the White House for virtually all documents relating to Vincent Foster.
Foster was deputy White House counsel. His July 1993 death is part of Fiske's probe, which primarily focuses on the Clintons' Whitewater land deal.
Thursday's subpoena appears to focus on papers removed from Foster's office after his death, which police say was a suicide by gunshot.
It seeks "any and all documents and/or communications written by, sent to or referring or relating" to Foster, and it indicates Fiske is searching for reasons for Foster's suicide.
President Clinton was asked Thursday whether the subpoena might raise questions of executive or lawyer-client privilege.
"I don't know. I don't know anything about it," he said. Before Clinton spoke, White House Counsel Lloyd Cutler said, "The White House will cooperate fully and promptly."
Hillary Rodham Clinton told CNN's Larry King Live Thursday night: "I'm sure he's (Fiske) conducting a very thorough investigation . . ."
Deputy counsel Joel Klein says some papers will be turned over starting this week.
The Washington elements of Fiske's probe include:
-- The question of whether Foster's death was a suicide.
Foster's body was found in a Virginia park near Washington. Fiske's report on the death was expected last month. It's been widely reported that Fiske has reaffirmed the original finding of suicide.
-- The propriety of contacts among White House and Justice and Treasury department aides about federal investigations of a failed thrift owned by the Clintons' Whitewater financial partner.
-- White House actions after Foster's death and the handling of papers in his office.
Former White House counsel Bernard Nussbaum took Whitewater papers from Foster's office, after sorting them in the presence of U.S. Park Police, Justice Department officials and White House staff members.
Despite its breadth, the subpoena's focus seems to be the conduct of Nussbaum and other White House officials and the content of Foster's papers.
A torn-up handwritten note by Foster was found in his briefcase several days after Nussbaum searched it. About 30 hours passed before it was turned over to investigators.
Klein says Fiske's priority is to examine files that were in Foster's office when he died and to determine "where they went to and what happened to them. . . . He wants to trace these files."
The subpoena also seeks any documents kept in White House safes and Foster's personal notes, computer disks and paging device or beeper.
Klein says there was no beeper on Foster's body. Most White House aides wear them.
Klein says an index of the disposition of files taken from Foster's office was created, and there's no evidence any documents were destroyed.
Some Foster papers remain at the White House. Some have been given to Fiske and some are in the possession of the Clintons' private lawyer, David Kendall, and the Foster family lawyer, James Hamilton.
Klein indicates Kendall and Hamilton will cooperate.
