Tucker Gets Four Years Probation -- Aug. 19, 1996

Arkansas Governor Won't Resign Pending Appeal -- July 15, 1996

Former Ark. Governor Gets New Liver

ROCHESTER, Minn. (AllPolitics, Dec. 26) -- Former Arkansas Gov. Jim Guy Tucker got a special Christmas gift Wednesday from the Mayo Clinic: a new liver.

Tucker, who suffered from chronic liver disease, had been on the clinic's waiting list for four months. "Everything apparently has gone off as expected and he is in stable condition," said Mayo spokeswoman Priscilla Russell. She said Tucker would probably be in the hospital for six to 10 days, then would recuperate over the next eight weeks.

"I am deeply grateful for the prayers and good wishes from home and for the willingness of the donor family to share this precious gift of life with me during a time of great tragedy for them," Tucker said in a statement. No information was made available about the donor.

Tucker resigned from office in July after being convicted of Whitewater-related fraud and conspiracy charges in May. He had been given four year's probation instead of prison time because of his chronic liver condition.

Once Tucker recovers from the surgery, he faces a fresh round of Whitewater trouble. Prosecutors have indicted him and two other men for conspiring to conceal profits from a multimillion-dollar cable television deal.