Amy Isaacs, national director of very liberal Americans for Democratic Action, tells The New Republic, “We’re hopeful that in the second term, when he’s not accountable to constituents, [Clinton] will reach back to his core values, and will come out swinging for what he believes in.” . . . Hillary Clinton on whether she had the apparently misused database installed in the White House: “I would doubt that I was the person who ordered it.” Rep. David McIntosh (R., Ind.), chairman of the subcommittee investigating the database, says he will seek subpoena power if necessary. “So,” says CBS’s Rita Braver, “we could be in the middle of one of those fun executive-privilege arguments.” . . . During his confirmation hearings as defense secretary, William Cohen said he approved of Clinton Administration’s go-slow missile-defense policy—which he had criticized as a Republican senator. . . . After nominee for labor secretary, Alexis Herman, was alleged to have done illegal political work while on White House staff, Mike McCurry said, “I can’t believe the majority leader would suggest that she’s disqualified from serving as secretary of labor because she attempted to encourage African Americans to participate in the political life of this nation.” Majority Leader Trent Lott called the remark “totally uncalled for . . . the kind of statement that I’m not going to put up with at the White House.” McCurry retreated but did not apologize. . . . House Majority Whip Tom DeLay says Democrats are “calling for bi-partisan, but they want us to be bi, while they’re partisan.” . . . After Speaker Newt Gingrich’s $300,000 “reimbursement fee,” Rep. Mark Sanford (R., S.C.) reflects on his children: “I will not say to them, ‘I want you to grow up to be like Bill Clinton or Newt Gingrich.’ ”
Sen. Bob Kerrey (D., Neb.), positioning himself for possible presidential run in 2000, contradicted previous statements by staying on as chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. He says the party needs to develop “a clear message”: “I don’t think we won the presidential race because of the superior ideas of the Democratic Party.” Jesse Jackson and Bill Bradley may also run for Democratic nomination. . . . On the Republican side, Steve Forbes predicts the successful nominee will run on some form of flat tax: “Unless you’re on board on that, you won’t be a competitor.” Orlando Sentinel reports that Jack Kemp is “hinting” to party insiders that he would choose Colin Powell as a running-mate. USA Today president Al Neuharth talks up ex-Sen. Nancy Landon Kassebaum Baker (R., Kan.) as a “sleeper” candidate, also says Ted Turner may run as independent. . . . Ex-NYC Mayor David Dinkins may try to take old job back from GOP’s Rudolph Giuliani. . . . Dan Rather has discovered identity of man who attacked him yelling, “Kenneth, what is the frequency?” in 1986: William Tager, in prison for killing an NBC technician outside the Today show studios.
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