■ In Fortune. David Shribman argues that President Clinton’s appointment of Bill Lann Lee to civil-rights post at Justice Department means Prez wants to mend fences with liberals who dominate House Democratic caucus; Shribman also reports Treasury officials want to “[p]ropose something outrageous yet appealing,” “like a really, really big tax cut for the middle class that would require a tax hike for top earners.” . . . Tarrance Group, pollsters previously considered middle-of-the-road Republicans, work with Stan Greenberg, Clinton’s 1992 pollster, on project for National Education Association on attitudes toward school construction. . . . Speaker Newt Gingrich, asked if he is interested in 2000 presidential race: “Sure, of course. … If you put together a list of twenty, I am on the list.” Says he will make decision with wife, Marianne, on Labor Day the year before election—as Bill Clinton did with Hillary in 1991. … In campaign letter, Rep. Steve Largent (R., Okla.) notes that in defending conservative values he has clashed with Rep. Barney Frank (D., Mass.), hard-left actor Alec Baldwin—and Gingrich. . . . Mark Shields observes that in last 10 presidential elections (1960-96), Republicans have chosen front-runner from year before convention every time, Democrats only twice (in 1960; and in 1996, when Clinton faced no challenge).
■ Senate Watch: Rep. Bob Inglis (R., S.C.) challenges Sen. Fritz Hollings (D.), but takes flak from Right, according to Wall Street Journal, as former county GOP chairman Stephen Brown, who also wants chance at Hollings, criticizes ’97 budget deal. . . . Geraldine Ferraro got kid-glove treatment from CNN (where she co-hosted Crossfire) as she announced challenge to Sen. Al D’Amato (R., N.Y.); Rep. Pete King (R.) is being urged to challenge state’s other senator, Daniel Patrick Moynihan, in 2000. . . . Business Week reports that Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R., Miss.) is targeting Democratic Sens. Jeff Bingaman (N.M.), Harry Reid (Nev.), and Richard Bryan (Nev.) as possible party-switchers. … In Mother Jones Michael Lind proposes breaking 50 states into 75—including New Cuba (southern Florida); Orange, Reagan, and Marin (in California); Long Island. Rationale: Senate violates “right to democratic representation” of voters in big states. This “malapportionment” put Clarence Thomas on Supreme Court, “gave Adolf Hitler time to conquer most of Europe without American opposition. . . . and the problem is only getting worse.”
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