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LOS ANGELES — Two former strategists for President Clinton were hired as consultants for the Screen Actors Guild during negotiations with the Association of Talent Agents. 

Mark Fabiani and Christopher Lehane began working for the actors union in January. Fabiani was behind the scenes while Clinton fought off allegations in the Whitewater and Monica Lewinsky investigations. Lehane worked in the White House counsel’s office while Clinton was in office. 

Both men were asked to consult for the union in case either an impasse or agreement was struck with the talent agents group, SAG officials said Thursday. 

The two groups reached a tentative agreement last weekend that would allow talent agencies to make and receive investments in production companies. 

The agreement would loosen existing rules, in place since 1939, to protect actors from exploitation by agents working on behalf of producers or studios. 

Under the proposed contract, independent production companies and large advertisers would be allowed to invest as much as 20 percent in a talent agency. Movie studios and television networks still would be banned from owning or investing in a talent agency. 

The deal still must be approved by SAG’s board of directors and membership and ratified by the talent agencies.