For the Record

Who’s up, who’s down in Clinton transition? Up: George Stephanopoulos, very liberal director of communications in the campaign. He is already established as chief spokesman; is expected to advise on policy and legislative strategy as well. . . . Down: VP-elect Al Gore. Spectacle of Gore standing behind Clinton at his first press conference, rigid and silent, bodes an end to campaign talk of “partnership.” . . . Inauguration, says Inauguration Committee aide Richard Mintz, will be both folksy and dignified. He sees it as “a cross between a state dinner at the White House and a Crittenden County ‘coon supper.’ . . . Meanwhile, battle has begun for control of Republican National Committee. Dan Quayle has strongly endorsed his former deputy chief of staff and current co-chairman of National Republican Congressional Committee, Spencer Abraham, for RNC chairman. . . . Others would prefer to leave Abraham, known as nuts- and-bolts man, at NRCC and give RNC post to more issues-oriented conservative; Pete du Pont, briefly favored, has withdrawn. . . . Rich Bond, current chairman, did not endear himself with biting attack on du Pont—“disloyal, unseemly, and cowardly”—for entering his name into RNC race before George Bush was actually defeated. Bond’s own candidate: Labor Secretary Lynn Martin. That spells the end for her, said one Republican insider: “Whoever Rich Bond supports will not get the job.” . . . Another victim of Bond potshots, Pat Buchanan, landed on his feet. Buchanan has great mailing list, amassed during primary campaign; is said to be starting a think-tank.

Over on Capitol Hill, Senate Democratic leadership unchanged, with George Mitchell (Me.) returned as Majority Leader and Wendell Ford (Ky.) as Majority Whip. Charles Robb (Va.) will step down as chairman of Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee; touted as candidates for post, two Far Left-liberals, Christopher Dodd (Conn.) and Barbara Mikulski (Md.). . . . Republican leadership also unchanged, with Bob Dole (Kan.) returning as Minority Leader, Alan Simpson (Wyo.) as Minority Whip, and Phil Gramm (Tex.) as chairman of National Republican Senatorial Committee. . . . Gramm—a conservative hero because of Gramm-Rudman, until he spoiled it with role in Richard Darman’s 1990 budget summit— beat out conservative challenger Mitch McConnell by just one vote. Making the difference for Gramm: votes of AI D’Amato (N.Y.), Bob Packwood (Ore.), and Arlen Specter (Pa.), all of whom had close calls in general election. . . . House conservatives optimistic about chances of Dick Armey (Tex.; ACU: 96) becoming Republican Conference Chairman. Armey faces December 7 election against current chairman, Jerry Lewis. It is the members of new Congress who choose, and Armey looks to get votes of 28 to 30 of the 47 new Republican members. . . . George Will reports that 148 representatives and 30 senators in 103rd Congress will be subject to term limits—including House Speaker Tom Foley (Wash.), 6 years; Majority Leader Dick Gephardt (Mo.), 8 years; and Majority Whip David Bonior (Mich.), 6 years—thanks to ballot initiatives in their states. . . . Common Cause found that of the 349 incumbents who were on the ballot on election day (the other 86 had resigned, retired, lost in primary, or been redistricted out), 325 (or 93 per cent) were re-elected. . . . Departing members have consolation prize: enormous pensions. Les Au-Coin (D., Ore.), who gave up House seat for unsuccessful challenge to Sen. Bob Packwood, will receive lifetime pension amounting, according to National Taxpayers Union, to over $2.8 million. At least 14 more departing congressmen would collect $2 million each, and 70, over $1 million. Since pensions are based on three highest salary years, recent self-awarded 40 per cent pay raise means a 30 per cent pension increase.

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Who’s up, who’s down in Clinton transition? Up: George Stephanopoulos, very liberal director of communications in the campaign. He is already established as chief spokesman; is expected to advise on policy and legislative strategy as well. . . . Down: VP-elect Al Gore. Spectacle of Gore standing behind Clinton at his first press conference, rigid and silent, bodes an end to campaign talk of “partnership.” . . . Inauguration, says Inauguration Committee aide Richard Mintz, will be both folksy and dignified. He sees it as “a cross between a state dinner at the White House and a Crittenden County ‘coon supper.’ . . . Meanwhile, battle has begun for control of Republican National Committee. Dan Quayle has strongly endorsed his former deputy chief of staff and current co-chairman of National Republican Congressional Committee, Spencer Abraham, for RNC chairman. . . . Others would prefer to leave Abraham, known as nuts- and-bolts man, at NRCC and give RNC post to more issues-oriented conservative; Pete du Pont, briefly favored, has withdrawn. . . . Rich Bond, current chairman, did not endear himself with biting attack on du Pont—“disloyal, unseemly, and cowardly”—for entering his name into RNC race before George Bush was actually defeated. Bond’s own candidate: Labor Secretary Lynn Martin. That spells the end for her, said one Republican insider: “Whoever Rich Bond supports will not get the job.” . . . Another victim of Bond potshots, Pat Buchanan, landed on his feet. Buchanan has great mailing list, amassed during primary campaign; is said to be starting a think-tank.

Over on Capitol Hill, Senate Democratic leadership unchanged, with George Mitchell (Me.) returned as Majority Leader and Wendell Ford (Ky.) as Majority Whip. Charles Robb (Va.) will step down as chairman of Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee; touted as candidates for post, two Far Left-liberals, Christopher Dodd (Conn.) and Barbara Mikulski (Md.). . . . Republican leadership also unchanged, with Bob Dole (Kan.) returning as Minority Leader, Alan Simpson (Wyo.) as Minority Whip, and Phil Gramm (Tex.) as chairman of National Republican Senatorial Committee. . . . Gramm—a conservative hero because of Gramm-Rudman, until he spoiled it with role in Richard Darman’s 1990 budget summit— beat out conservative challenger Mitch McConnell by just one vote. Making the difference for Gramm: votes of AI D’Amato (N.Y.), Bob Packwood (Ore.), and Arlen Specter (Pa.), all of whom had close calls in general election. . . . House conservatives optimistic about chances of Dick Armey (Tex.; ACU: 96) becoming Republican Conference Chairman. Armey faces December 7 election against current chairman, Jerry Lewis. It is the members of new Congress who choose, and Armey looks to get votes of 28 to 30 of the 47 new Republican members. . . . George Will reports that 148 representatives and 30 senators in 103rd Congress will be subject to term limits—including House Speaker Tom Foley (Wash.), 6 years; Majority Leader Dick Gephardt (Mo.), 8 years; and Majority Whip David Bonior (Mich.), 6 years—thanks to ballot initiatives in their states. . . . Common Cause found that of the 349 incumbents who were on the ballot on election day (the other 86 had resigned, retired, lost in primary, or been redistricted out), 325 (or 93 per cent) were re-elected. . . . Departing members have consolation prize: enormous pensions. Les Au-Coin (D., Ore.), who gave up House seat for unsuccessful challenge to Sen. Bob Packwood, will receive lifetime pension amounting, according to National Taxpayers Union, to over $2.8 million. At least 14 more departing congressmen would collect $2 million each, and 70, over $1 million. Since pensions are based on three highest salary years, recent self-awarded 40 per cent pay raise means a 30 per cent pension increase.