■ Monica Lewinsky lawyer William Ginsburg, in “open letter” to Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr: “You may have succeeded in unmasking a sexual relationship between two consenting adults.” . . . National Security Advisor Sandy Berger, urging Pakistanis not to test nukes, uses slang word “Paks” four times on NBC’s Meet the Press. Pakistani Embassy says term is derogatory. Eleven days later, Pakistan conducts five nuclear tests. . . . On upcoming visit to China, President Clinton is scheduled to participate in state ceremony at Tiananmen Square. Responding to uproar, White House spokesman Mike McCurry says official function there is no different from official function on South Lawn of White House. ABC News anchor Peter Jennings: “Except nobody was killed on the South Lawn of the White House.”
■ Sen. John Ashcroft (R., Mo.) wins South Carolina GOP straw poll for 2000 presidential nomination, with 32 per cent. Second-place finisher, Gov. George W. Bush (R., Tex.), draws 15 per cent. . . . Family Research Council head Gary Bauer on chances he’ll run for President: “I think it’s 50-50.” . . . Steve Forbes on India’s nukes: “The White House’s 1930s-style drift-and- dithering diplomacy is already beginning to beget what will become an increasingly bitter harvest.” . . . Same night as last Seinfeld episode, New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani (R.) hauls in $1 million at fundraiser, at which he proposes to extend benefits to “domestic partners” of city employees. . . . House Speaker Newt Gingrich makes guest appearance on Weather Channel. . . . Republicans initiate informal talks to increase congressional pay 3.1 per cent, to $140,254. Plan won’t move forward without promise from Minority Leader Dick Gephardt not to make it campaign issue.
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