For the Record

■ President Clinton’s book, Between Hope and History, is massive flop. According to Washington Post, Random House will have 250,000 to 350,000 unsold copies on hand by Inauguration Day (out of nearly 500,000 printed in August); Random House is reluctant to shred book for insulation or packing material, as happens to unsuccessful books not written by President of United States. . . . Never- Too-Early Dept.: Wall Street Journal/ NBC poll shows 37 per cent of Republicans favoring Colin Powell for presidential nomination in year 2000; Jack Kemp gets 20 per cent, Texas Gov. George W. Bush (no doubt benefiting from father’s name recognition) a surprising 19 per cent. Also mentioned: Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson, House Majority Leader Dick Armey. Thomas Sowell, in syndicated column, picks up John McGinnis’s suggestion (NR, Nov. 25) of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. . . . Good riddance: new Republican National Committee rules could mean end of first-in- the-nation status for Iowa caucus and New Hampshire primary.

■ Washington columnist and socialite Arianna Huffington is moving back to California. Is a run for Barbara Boxer’s Senate seat in her future? Just-defeated Rep. Bob Dornan, meanwhile, leaves open possibility of running for Boxer seat or his old House seat in 1998. . . . Impressive conservative Kenneth Blackwell, state treasurer of Ohio, signals his continued interest in 1998 gubernatorial bid despite efforts of Ohio Secretary of State Bob Taft to lock up nomination early. . . . Rep. Jim Moran (D., Va.) complains that “right now, the left wing is in control” of Democratic Party in House. . . . Sen. Dan Coats (R., Ind.), reportedly trailing presumptive 1998 Democratic challenger, Gov. Evan Bayh, by 25 points, decides not to run for re-election, creating possible opening for bright sophomore Rep. David McIntosh. . . . Correction: Conservative Rep. John Boehner was mischaracterized as “moderate” in For the Record last issue.

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■ President Clinton’s book, Between Hope and History, is massive flop. According to Washington Post, Random House will have 250,000 to 350,000 unsold copies on hand by Inauguration Day (out of nearly 500,000 printed in August); Random House is reluctant to shred book for insulation or packing material, as happens to unsuccessful books not written by President of United States. . . . Never- Too-Early Dept.: Wall Street Journal/ NBC poll shows 37 per cent of Republicans favoring Colin Powell for presidential nomination in year 2000; Jack Kemp gets 20 per cent, Texas Gov. George W. Bush (no doubt benefiting from father’s name recognition) a surprising 19 per cent. Also mentioned: Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson, House Majority Leader Dick Armey. Thomas Sowell, in syndicated column, picks up John McGinnis’s suggestion (NR, Nov. 25) of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. . . . Good riddance: new Republican National Committee rules could mean end of first-in- the-nation status for Iowa caucus and New Hampshire primary.

■ Washington columnist and socialite Arianna Huffington is moving back to California. Is a run for Barbara Boxer’s Senate seat in her future? Just-defeated Rep. Bob Dornan, meanwhile, leaves open possibility of running for Boxer seat or his old House seat in 1998. . . . Impressive conservative Kenneth Blackwell, state treasurer of Ohio, signals his continued interest in 1998 gubernatorial bid despite efforts of Ohio Secretary of State Bob Taft to lock up nomination early. . . . Rep. Jim Moran (D., Va.) complains that “right now, the left wing is in control” of Democratic Party in House. . . . Sen. Dan Coats (R., Ind.), reportedly trailing presumptive 1998 Democratic challenger, Gov. Evan Bayh, by 25 points, decides not to run for re-election, creating possible opening for bright sophomore Rep. David McIntosh. . . . Correction: Conservative Rep. John Boehner was mischaracterized as “moderate” in For the Record last issue.