Is Bill Clinton following up on rightward rhetorical shift? Geoffrey Cowan, former Village Voice, Nation writer and aide to former Sixties leftwing Rep. William Fitts Ryan, has been named to head Voice of America. . . . Fred Barnes speculates that David Gergen may be back in private sector because of efforts to shift Clinton image from Left. Gergen told Barnes his detractors on the Left “won’t be satisfied until I’m gone.” . . . Tim Wirth’s office of population control at State has a bowl of condoms for the taking. . . . Deval Patrick, veteran of NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund and partner in law firm of Michael Dukakis, is nominee for assistant attorney general for civil rights, post for which Lani Guinier was too radical. Patrick favors quota system for death penalty. . . . President chose Ricki Tigert, close friend of Hillary, to head FDIC; Miss Tigret could play role in Whitewater investigation, and has been ambivalent about recusing herself. . . . Mort Halperin, whose activist past forewarned tough Senate confirmation to State Department post, is to be senior director on democracy at NSC, which does not require Senate confirmation. . . . Bill Bennett told CPAC audience: “It took a woman half my size and twice my age” to offer President best advice on social policy. Mother Teresa said on abortion: “If you don’t want the babies, give them to me.” Advice not applauded by President.
CPAC straw poll found Jack Kemp leading presidential field with 34 per cent (down 14 points from last year) to Pat Buchanan’s 11 per cent and Bill Bennett’s 9 per cent. Bob Dole received only 8 per cent. Conservative favorites Phil Gramm (4.9 per cent), Dick Cheney (4.3 per cent), and Dan Quayle (3.6 per cent) did not fare as well. … In Senate races: nationally, Republicans excited that Hugh Rodham, brother of First Lady, plans to challenge popular conservative Connie Mack in Florida: Hillary becomes campaign issue. . . . Supply-side Reaganite and 31-year-old engineer Scott Williams is challenging three term Sen. Patrick Moynihan in New York. … In California gubernatorial contest, tough stance on immigration is helping beleagured Pete Wilson, now neck and neck with leading Democrat Kathleen Brown. . . . House Speaker Tom Foley may have dodged bullet when Washington State federal judge ruled term-limit initiative unconstitutional, yet he has become vulnerable among constituents. Only 43 per cent feel he should be re-elected; 49 per cent do not. Three-quarters still favor term limits. . . . Texas Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison furlongs ahead in her race for re-election after judge dismissed charges that she misused state office for campaign duties.
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