For the Record

■ “His political consultants tell him it’s good to posture,” Newt Gingrich told USA Today about Bill Clinton’s decision to oppose GOP budget plan while not offering alternative. But reading habits of White House aides may actually account for Clinton’s risky strategy. David McCullough’s best-seller, Truman, is all the rage at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, as staffers believe its description of 1948 memo by liberal lawyer Joseph Rauh offers a battle plan for ’96. Rauh argued that Harry Truman could win by constantly confronting GOP Congress and making its supposed partiality to the rich central issue in presidential race. But current Hill Democrats (who note that Clinton once pledged to aim for balanced budget) are uneasy with 47- year-old plan that has forced them to vote against first real attempt to end deficits. “There is a widespread concern that we Democrats appear to be for the status quo because we have proposed no constructive alternative,” said Rep. Charles Stenholm (D., Tex.). Even Washington Post took Dems to task. … In recent presidential beauty contest three thousand Colorado Republicans expressed preference for Bob Dole but wildly applauded Phil Gramm’s speech and booed Arlen Specter, who supported abortion and said it was “sacrilegious” to invoke name of God in politics. . . . Pat Buchanan bid continues to look more realistic, as recent New Hampshire poll shows him running second to Bob Dole. But Religious Right’s leaders are wary about former Nixon aide as spokesman for their cause, and Buchanan in turn is critical of them. After boffo Capitol Hill press conference by Ralph Reed announcing his Christian Coalition’s Contract with the American Family, Buchanan told Wall Street Journal’s Al Hunt that contract didn’t go far enough and called for “more boldness.” Campaign manager Bay Buchanan complained that some leaders of social conservatives are talking down her brother to their troops— “They’re going over backward to keep them from going with us. But they are having no luck; the grass roots is coming over in droves.” But friction between Buchanan camp and religious conservative leaders could mean trouble. As GOP Wisconsin chairman David Opitz notes, “The religious conservatives aren’t trying to get a nose under the tent any more. They are the tent.”

■ Two takes on new Whitewater probe headed by Sen. Alfonse D’Amato (R., N.Y.) and approved by Senate 96 to 3. From Clinton political guru James Carville: “The country’s going to end up spending $60 million to investigate a land deal where everyone lost money and did nothing wrong.” But Washington Times editor and Arkansas native Wesley Pruden writes that home-state inquiry means “wombats, wampus cats, and geezibillies of all kinds, each uglier than the other, will be crawling over hill and hollow and out of swamps and bayous.” . . . Another ethical sore spot in Administration, health-care guru Ira Magaziner—accused of making false statements in federal affidavits—is not being abandoned by his mentor, Hillary Clinton. But First Lady’s attempt to get him new job nixed by Treasury officials.

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Presidential Election

■ “His political consultants tell him it’s good to posture,” Newt Gingrich told USA Today about Bill Clinton’s decision to oppose GOP budget plan while not offering alternative. But reading habits of White House aides may actually account for Clinton’s risky strategy. David McCullough’s best-seller, Truman, is all the rage at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, as staffers believe its description of 1948 memo by liberal lawyer Joseph Rauh offers a battle plan for ’96. Rauh argued that Harry Truman could win by constantly confronting GOP Congress and making its supposed partiality to the rich central issue in presidential race. But current Hill Democrats (who note that Clinton once pledged to aim for balanced budget) are uneasy with 47- year-old plan that has forced them to vote against first real attempt to end deficits. “There is a widespread concern that we Democrats appear to be for the status quo because we have proposed no constructive alternative,” said Rep. Charles Stenholm (D., Tex.). Even Washington Post took Dems to task. … In recent presidential beauty contest three thousand Colorado Republicans expressed preference for Bob Dole but wildly applauded Phil Gramm’s speech and booed Arlen Specter, who supported abortion and said it was “sacrilegious” to invoke name of God in politics. . . . Pat Buchanan bid continues to look more realistic, as recent New Hampshire poll shows him running second to Bob Dole. But Religious Right’s leaders are wary about former Nixon aide as spokesman for their cause, and Buchanan in turn is critical of them. After boffo Capitol Hill press conference by Ralph Reed announcing his Christian Coalition’s Contract with the American Family, Buchanan told Wall Street Journal’s Al Hunt that contract didn’t go far enough and called for “more boldness.” Campaign manager Bay Buchanan complained that some leaders of social conservatives are talking down her brother to their troops— “They’re going over backward to keep them from going with us. But they are having no luck; the grass roots is coming over in droves.” But friction between Buchanan camp and religious conservative leaders could mean trouble. As GOP Wisconsin chairman David Opitz notes, “The religious conservatives aren’t trying to get a nose under the tent any more. They are the tent.”

■ Two takes on new Whitewater probe headed by Sen. Alfonse D’Amato (R., N.Y.) and approved by Senate 96 to 3. From Clinton political guru James Carville: “The country’s going to end up spending $60 million to investigate a land deal where everyone lost money and did nothing wrong.” But Washington Times editor and Arkansas native Wesley Pruden writes that home-state inquiry means “wombats, wampus cats, and geezibillies of all kinds, each uglier than the other, will be crawling over hill and hollow and out of swamps and bayous.” . . . Another ethical sore spot in Administration, health-care guru Ira Magaziner—accused of making false statements in federal affidavits—is not being abandoned by his mentor, Hillary Clinton. But First Lady’s attempt to get him new job nixed by Treasury officials.