Following the inauguration, she was appointed deputy special assistant to the president and deputy director of public liaison, working under Alexis Herman.

She also joined the Reagan White House as director of public liaison in 1985.

"We think we have not done a very good job of getting our message out," said Alexis Herman, White House director of public liaison.

Officially, Mr. Rove is the president's senior adviser, with purview over the offices of political affairs and public liaison.

Clintonites say the public liaisons under Reagan and Bush did much the same things.

And his move led to her resignation after barely four months as assistant to President Bush for public liaison and intergovernmental affairs.

Finn also announced the appointment of an independent public liaison and ombudsman.

Mr. Siv is deputy assistant to the President for public liaison, a job in which he deals with ethnic groups and some foreign policy matters.

One member of the White House staff, Michael Lux, is in charge of public liaison with outside groups.

It is unlikely that many of them have the time and energy to also act as public liaison for their research field.