For the Record

■ Quirky liberal columnist Richard Cohen: “Patriotism may be the last refuge of a scoundrel, but yelling about leaks is a close second. . . . Those of us who went through Watergate and Agnewgate are having distinct feelings of déja vu.” . . . The Economist’s cover line: “If it’s true, go” …. In The Hill., Dick Morris argues that scandal puts Hillary Rodham Clinton in charge of White House—which raises risk: Bill Clinton “can’t make it if the 30 per cent who think he is immoral are joined by another 30 per cent who feel he is weak. … It was the conversion of this second group of Clinton-doubters [that made] all the difference in the president’s ratings.” . . . Fox News/Opinion Dynamics poll finds 52 per cent believe White House accusations of leaks by Kenneth Starr are designed to sow confusion; 45 per cent would not feel safe leaving a daughter in late teens or early twenties alone with Clinton; 49 per cent believe Mrs. Clinton stays not for love but for power. . . . Sen. Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) decries White House “smear campaign” against Starr. . . . Leon Panetta, former chief of staff to Clinton, says Starr “does have a good reputation in Washington, and I think that he’s got to be given an opportunity to investigate the situation, find the facts. . . . Give him the room to do it.” . . . White House press secretary Mike McCurry: “I believe exactly what he has said. . . . And truth to the contrary would be very troublesome to me, to the press, and the American people.” Of high approval ratings, he says, “No wise person should read these poll numbers as a glowing endorsement of Bill Clinton.”

■ U.S. News and World Report asks Rep. John Porter (R., Ill.) “if Clinton’s call for a $1.1 billion increase for the National Institutes of Health next year was too much.” His response: “How about not enough?” Porter chairs relevant appropriations subcommittee. . . . National Right to Work leader Reed Larson complains that Newt Gingrich (R., Ga.) and Dick Armey (R., Tex.) are “stonewall[ing]” rather than keeping pledge to hold roll-call votes on bill against compulsory union dues. . . . National Journal’s Paul Starobin reports on shift of voters in America’s 100 richest communities to Democrats: “In 1996, Clinton ran best in the nation’s richest—and poorest—congressional districts.” . . . Maine votes 52-48 per cent to repeal gay rights law passed by state legislature last spring. Result is shot in arm for wobbling Christian Coalition. . . . Asked for position on homosexual issues at social conservative Council for National Policy meeting, Steve Forbes says, “Equal rights for all. Special rights for no one.” . . . Rep. John Kasich (R., Ohio) on Clinton’s budget: “It looks like the President wants to eliminate state and local government and run everything out of Washington.” Dick Gephardt (D., Mo.): “Republicans are asking Americans to make a false choice between big government and less government. Democrats believe the choice is between smart government and idle government.”

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■ Quirky liberal columnist Richard Cohen: “Patriotism may be the last refuge of a scoundrel, but yelling about leaks is a close second. . . . Those of us who went through Watergate and Agnewgate are having distinct feelings of déja vu.” . . . The Economist’s cover line: “If it’s true, go” …. In The Hill., Dick Morris argues that scandal puts Hillary Rodham Clinton in charge of White House—which raises risk: Bill Clinton “can’t make it if the 30 per cent who think he is immoral are joined by another 30 per cent who feel he is weak. … It was the conversion of this second group of Clinton-doubters [that made] all the difference in the president’s ratings.” . . . Fox News/Opinion Dynamics poll finds 52 per cent believe White House accusations of leaks by Kenneth Starr are designed to sow confusion; 45 per cent would not feel safe leaving a daughter in late teens or early twenties alone with Clinton; 49 per cent believe Mrs. Clinton stays not for love but for power. . . . Sen. Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) decries White House “smear campaign” against Starr. . . . Leon Panetta, former chief of staff to Clinton, says Starr “does have a good reputation in Washington, and I think that he’s got to be given an opportunity to investigate the situation, find the facts. . . . Give him the room to do it.” . . . White House press secretary Mike McCurry: “I believe exactly what he has said. . . . And truth to the contrary would be very troublesome to me, to the press, and the American people.” Of high approval ratings, he says, “No wise person should read these poll numbers as a glowing endorsement of Bill Clinton.”

■ U.S. News and World Report asks Rep. John Porter (R., Ill.) “if Clinton’s call for a $1.1 billion increase for the National Institutes of Health next year was too much.” His response: “How about not enough?” Porter chairs relevant appropriations subcommittee. . . . National Right to Work leader Reed Larson complains that Newt Gingrich (R., Ga.) and Dick Armey (R., Tex.) are “stonewall[ing]” rather than keeping pledge to hold roll-call votes on bill against compulsory union dues. . . . National Journal’s Paul Starobin reports on shift of voters in America’s 100 richest communities to Democrats: “In 1996, Clinton ran best in the nation’s richest—and poorest—congressional districts.” . . . Maine votes 52-48 per cent to repeal gay rights law passed by state legislature last spring. Result is shot in arm for wobbling Christian Coalition. . . . Asked for position on homosexual issues at social conservative Council for National Policy meeting, Steve Forbes says, “Equal rights for all. Special rights for no one.” . . . Rep. John Kasich (R., Ohio) on Clinton’s budget: “It looks like the President wants to eliminate state and local government and run everything out of Washington.” Dick Gephardt (D., Mo.): “Republicans are asking Americans to make a false choice between big government and less government. Democrats believe the choice is between smart government and idle government.”