"The public trust"

Whitewater felon James McDougal got a 90-day extension of his temporary get-out-of-jail-free card Nov. 13 when the independent counsel's office secured yet another delay in Mr. McDougal's sentencing. Actually, the former Clinton business partner's temporary freedom is due only to his meeting with the FBI and Whitewater prosecutors "numerous times, providing them with information pertinent to their ongoing investigation"--as prosecutor W. Ray Jahn put it in court papers requesting the sentencing delay. Pertinent information has been a scarce commodity in the Whitewater investigation, independent counsel Kenneth Starr said two days earlier in a news conference following a speech in Detroit. "It would have been very helpful, frankly, if each person with relevant information had simply come forward--honestly, truthfully assisted the prosecution in seeking to get at the facts, get at the truth," said Mr. Starr. "We did not meet with that to the extent that I would have liked." The independent counsel's speech was the first high-profile public explanation of what's at issue in the Whitewater probe since Bill Clinton, of all people, during the presidential campaign attacked Mr. Starr's integrity. Mr. Starr, a professed believer in Christ and member of the Christian Legal Society, eloquently defended his investigation and said what's at stake is "civic virtue." Mr. Starr took pains to point out that the Washington phase of the Whitewater investigation concerns questions--"and I stress that they are only questions . . . about the integrity of the official processes of government in Washington." He continued, "It is about whether participants in Washington later deceived federal investigators trying to reconstruct those processes of government. It is about the White House Travel Office and the subsequent investigations into the firings of those seven individuals, including, most prominently, Billy Dale. "It is about contact between the Treasury Department and the White House concerning law-enforcement matters affecting Madison Guaranty in Little Rock and the subsequent investigations into those contacts. It is, in short, about public trust."

Coupless blood

House Speaker Newt Gingrich appeared late last week to have survived a challenge to his leadership, even if he may not survive an ethics committee probe of the nonprofit funding mechanism for his "Renewing American Civilization" college telecourse. The week began with a cover story in the conservative biweekly National Review suggesting Mr. Gingrich step down until the ethics questions are resolved; Rep. Steve Largent (R-Okla.) said in an interview on the Fox News Channel Nov. 10 he considered that "a good idea ... [that would] allow us to work more constructively and move forward." Later that day, Mr. Largent had backed off, but New York Republican Rep. Peter King blasted Mr. Gingrich Nov. 11 as "damaged goods" and implored the speaker to "step aside for the good of the country." On Nov. 13 House GOP leaders signed a letter "unequivocally" supporting Mr. Gingrich, who they said led Republicans to the first back-to-back election wins in 68 years: "It took an entire team to win this historic victory, but no one deserves more credit than our speaker, Newt Gingrich." If the Balanced Budget Amendment passes this year, Republicans may have to credit Bill Clinton, who Nov. 12 signaled he could live with a watered-down version of the constitutional amendment--even though he has stated his opposition. With the House solidly in favor of the amendment and the election of more conservative GOP senators (liberal Republican Sen. Mark Hatfield of Oregon, who cast the deciding vote that killed the BBA in 1995, retired and was replaced by a conservative), vote-counters say pro-BBA forces have more than the two-thirds necessary support to enact the measure. Later that night, administration officials, including Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin, phoned reporters to say Mr. Clinton didn't really mean it, but the damage was done. Although the president has no power to veto constitutional amendments, he does have power over Democrats whose opposition could derail the GOP effort. AP quoted an unnamed aide to House Democrats grumbling that Mr. Clinton's waffling "made [passage] more inevitable." It may not be inevitable, but Attorney General Janet Reno's refusal Nov. 12 to name an independent counsel to investigate former Democratic fundraiser John Huang made a congressional probe more likely. Leaders of investigatory panels in both the House and Senate last week promised they'd seek to get to the bottom of the campaign-finance scandal involving Mr. Huang's dealings with the Democratic National Committee, the Commerce Department, and the White House. Miss Reno said a letter from Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) suggesting she consider seeking an independent counsel lacked "specific, credible evidence" of wrongdoing. Sen. McCain pointed to Miss Reno's refusal as "further proof that congressional hearings may be needed."

Out of Washington...

The White House exodus continued last week: Deputy Chief of Staff Harold Ickes (Nov. 11), economic adviser Laura Tyson and Transportation Secretary Federico Pe¤a (Nov. 12), and Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Deval Patrick (Nov. 14) announced they were leaving President Clinton's employ. Housing Secretary Henry Cisneros may not be far behind; on Nov. 14, the attorney representing Mr. Cisneros's former mistress Linda Medlar reported to the grand jury room in U.S. district court in Washington. The grand jury was convened by independent counsel David Barrett to investigate whether Mr. Cisneros lied to the FBI regarding payments he made to Ms. Medlar. Mr. Clinton also left town, but that was to start a 12-day trip to Asia Nov. 15, which began with vacation time in Hawaii. The centerpiece of the trip is the Asian Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum, where Mr. Clinton reportedly will press for liberalized trade policies in the Pacific Rim. He was also slated to meet with China's President Jiang Zemin in the Philippines. The meeting comes on the heels of China's Nov. 10 ban on American imports, including fruit, beverages, textiles, and other goods in retaliation for the U.S. government's levy of a $19 million penalty against Beijing for shipping garments through third countries to avoid U.S. import quotas.

. . . and into Zaire

As White House officials publicly announced an agreement in principle to send U.S. ground troops to assist a Canadian-led multinational force to deliver humanitarian supplies in beleaguered Zaire, a U.S. survey team had landed in Rwanda to assess security needs for American forces. On Nov. 14, outgoing Defense Secretary William Perry headed to Capitol Hill to attempt to calm skeptical Republicans. Sen. Dan Coats (R-Ind.) said the administration has "good intentions but no clear goals." He added U.S. officials seem to be acting "as if the memories and lessons of Somalia have been forgotten"; in a 1992 humanitarian mission, 18 U.S. troops were killed hunting rival warlords who were sabotaging the relief effort. Mr. Perry vowed the same mistakes would not be made: There would be no disarming of local warring factions and the rules of engagement would be such that U.S. soldiers would be able to defend themselves from attack.

The enemy within?

The U.S. military was shell-shocked by allegations of rape, sexual abuse, and other improper sexual activity between female trainees and their male instructors or commanders. Army officials at the Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland charged four drill instructors and a captain with sexual misconduct. Two of the men stand accused of raping women fresh out of boot camp and threatening them with further violence if they reported the incidents. In a separate case at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri, an Army judge Nov. 13 sentenced a drill sergeant to five months in jail and gave him a bad-conduct discharge for having sex with three female recruits. Two other instructors at the same post are facing similar charges. Responding to the incidents, Defense Secretary William Perry ordered a military-wide investigation of possible "sexual harassment [and] unprofessional relationships" in military training programs.

Let it snow

From Wisconsin to upstate New York, an early--and heavy--snowfall closed schools, created hazardous driving conditions, and caused two jets to slide off runways. Hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses lost power. Snow shovels got the most use in the eastern suburbs of Cleveland, Ohio, where four feet of snow fell. n The great divide A two-year-old racial discrimination lawsuit against Texaco moved to the front pages after a transcript of a 1994 meeting of company executives was made public. In the obscenity-laden transcript, taken from a secret tape recording, company officials disparage black employees and and apparently plot to destroy evidence relating to the discrimination case. Texaco chairman Peter Bijur, who was not part of the controversial meeting, repudiated the transcribed comments and promised to settle the lawsuit "as quickly as possible." Racial tension boiled over again in St. Petersburg, Fla., Nov. 13 after a white policeman was cleared in a shooting that sparked a race riot last month. Several people were injured in street violence, including two police officers.

Cultural indicators

Despite their academic success and promising futures, one-fourth of the top crop of high school students has considered committing suicide, according to the 27th Annual Who's Who Survey of High Achievers released Nov. 13. Forty-one percent of the students knew someone who had actually attempted suicide. Almost half were aware of drug-dealing in their schools. More than half of the girls knew someone who had aborted a child. The good news: 80 percent of the top achievers cited their parents as the people in whom they have the most trust and confidence.

On trial

A Michigan jury found a onetime guest on TV's Jenny Jones Show guilty Nov. 13 of second-degree murder for shooting another guest who revealed his homosexual attraction for him during a show segment on "same-sex crushes." Defense lawyers for Jonathan Schmitz claimed the show deceived their client about the nature of the segment and "ambushed" him in front of a studio audience, causing him to endure public humiliation. The shooting occurred three days later. The dead man's family has filed a $25 million civil lawsuit against the producers of the show for creating an "unnecessary, unreasonable, [and] negligent risk."

Sudden death

In the deadliest mid-air collision in history, a Saudi Arabian 747, climbing after leaving New Delhi's airport, collided Nov. 12 with a Kazak cargo plane heading for a landing. The collision created twin fireballs and scattered the bodies of 349 people over farmland below, about 60 miles west of New Delhi. Clerics, asked to examine the unidentified bodies to determine which were Hindu, Muslim, and Christian, declined. Instead, they determined from passenger lists what percentage of victims were likely to fall into each religion, divided the remains accordingly and held separate funeral services without knowing the actual beliefs of the dead.

Bhutto battles back

A week after her second term in office came to an abrupt and inglorious end, ousted Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto launched a legal battle to return her government to power. President Farooq Leghari dismissed Mrs. Bhutto and dissolved her government Nov. 5, accusing her of corruption and of plotting violence against her political enemies. Mrs. Bhutto, who denies the charges, filed a 42-page petition with the Pakistan Supreme Court Nov. 13 challenging Mr. Leghari's authority to dissolve her government.

Christmas in Bosnia

Amid renewed fighting in Bosnia, President Clinton announced Nov. 15 that the U.S. troop deployment to Bosnia, originally set to set to end next month, will be extended at least a year. One day earlier, Bosnia's three presidents, each representing a different ethnic faction, reaffirmed commitments made earlier this year in the Dayton peace agreement. Thus far, none of the 13 commitments--which include cooperation with the U.N. war crimes tribunal, respect for human rights, and creation of a free-market economy--has been fully carried out.

Unfrozen funds

The Miami Herald reported that the families of four private pilots killed in February when their planes were shot down by Cuban jets have each received $300,000 in compensation--paid by the U.S. government out of frozen Cuban funds. The pilots were part of Brothers to the Rescue, a Miami-based group that searches the Florida Straits for people fleeing from communist-ruled Cuba. Despite clear evidence to the contrary, the Cuban government claims the planes were over Cuban territory. At the United Nations, for the fifth straight year, the General Assembly called on the U.S. to drop its trade embargo of Cuba.

Eliminating the hungry

Participants at a U.N.-sponsored World Food Summit in Rome discussed the problem of "food insecurity."A Declaration on World Food Security, calling for a halving of the number of hungry people by 2015, was adopted by acclamation. The document offers no concrete plan for reaching that goal. Responding to the widely held notion that hunger is caused by overpopulation, Pope John Paul II said, in an opening address to the summit: "We must renounce the sophist view which holds that to be many is to condemn ourselves to be poor." He said the real reasons behind inadequate food distribution include political instability, war, "embargoes imposed without sufficient reasoning," and high levels of government debt.