White House Council Under Bill Clinton Jack Quinn Dead At 74

Lobbyist and lawyer Jack Quinn, best known for serving as White House counsel under President Bill Clinton, passed away this week at the age of 74 due to complications from a double-lung transplant he underwent in 2019.

The news of his passing was confirmed by his wife, Susanna Quinn.

Quinn spent twenty years at the blue-chip firm Arnold & Porter, where he made partner and quickly rose to the top of the lobbying department, while also becoming a prominent figure in Democratic campaign circles.

“Mr. Quinn was the consummate Washington insider, sought after by politicians, corporations and other clients for his legal expertise, his political instincts and his ability to navigate the city’s centers of power.”

The Washington Post

After working on several unsuccessful campaigns, Jack joined Senator Al Gore’s team in 1992 as an aide to Gore, who was Bill Clinton’s running mate. Once elected vice president, Gore hired Quinn as his chief of staff.

Jack spent fifteen months as the White House counsel, where he advised the White House on standard issues, such as executive appointments and judicial nominations. Quinn stepped down from his duties as White House counsel in February 1997. Jack returned to Arnold & Porter before eventually founding a bipartisan lobbying firm with Ed Gillespie. The firm represented major companies like Verizon, Bank of America, and Cisco Systems.

Jack was born in Brooklyn in 1949. After graduating from high school, Quinn attended Georgetown University, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in 1971 and his law degree in 1975.

Survivors include his wife of 17 years, the former Susanna Monroney of the District; two children from his first marriage, Megan Quinn of Tacoma, Wash., and Jonathan Quinn of Steamboat Springs, Colo.; two children from his second marriage, Caitlin Slaviero of Sydney and Brendan Quinn of New York City; two children from his third marriage, Jocelyn Quinn and Storm Quinn, both of the District; two daughters from other relationships, Kathleen Quinn of Garwood, N.J., and Jessica Del Pizzo of Arlington, Va.; a brother; and 12 grandchildren.

The Washington Post