For the Record

■ Presidential contenders lined up to address four thousand members of Christian Coalition in D.C. Says Executive Director Ralph Reed: “We have gained what we always sought—a place at the table.” When Phil Gramm challenged Bob Dole to sign Phyllis Schlafly’s pledge to retain GOP’s pro-life plank Dole defended his pro-life record, but, refused to sign. Pat Buchanan assailed abortion, outcome-based education, federal judges, “new world order.” Richard Lugar warned of fiscal and social dangers of states and cities growing dependent on gambling revenues. . . . Not invited: Arlen Specter, who has bashed Reed, the Coalition, its founder Pat Robertson. Specter complains, “You deny the most basic American rights—the right to speak out and the right to be heard as you seek to dominate the political process and dictate the Republican nominee for President for 1996.” . . . After conference, Robertson told reporters: “If there is a winner of this round, [it’s] Phil Gramm.” But he defended “lifelong conservative” Dole: “I don’t think Bob Dole is being some kind of chameleon.”

■ Richard Ben Cramer, updating his 1988 campaign book, asked what Dole would do first upon becoming President. Dole’s response: “Haven’t thought. . . . If I get elected at my age, you know . . . I’m not goin’ anywhere. It’s not an agenda. I’m just gonna serve my country.” David Keene, head of American Conservative Union and Dole advisor, comments: “Cicero he ain’t. He’s not really giving people what they expect from a presidential candidate, which is a sense of the world he wants to create and where he wants to lead them.” A consultant to Dole campaign told New Yorker’s Sidney Blumenthal that Dole “has the look of a guy who feels he’s being called onstage to have someone pull the trapdoor lever. He’s certain—certain—that something will go wrong. Reagan looked happier getting shot than Bob Dole will look getting nominated.” . . . After Barbara Walters interview with Colin Powell, Bill Lacy, deputy manager of Dole campaign, told New York Post’s Deborah Orin that Powell talk “helps our campaign, very simply because General Powell is out there getting a lot of attention that Phil Gramm or Pete Wilson or Lamar Alexander or Pat Buchanan isn’t.” . . . Presidential Fibs: Bill Clinton claims, “For two years, I said the Medicare Trust Fund was in trouble, and Mr. Gingrich and others mocked me and denied that it was in trouble.” Republican National Committee reveals results of Nexis search for keywords “Clinton” and “Medicare trust fund” during first two years of term: “Direct Quotes: Zero.” . . . Buchanan, desperate for campaign cash, is sending fund-raising appeals by costly certified mail, blames troubles on lack of “special-interest money from Wall Street and K Street.” . . . Gramm won another surprise victory in straw poll of National Federation of Republican Women. Dole placed third, behind Alexander; each got less than half Gramm’s support. . . . Steve Forbes, decrying lack of vision in presidential field, is about to enter the race.

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■ Presidential contenders lined up to address four thousand members of Christian Coalition in D.C. Says Executive Director Ralph Reed: “We have gained what we always sought—a place at the table.” When Phil Gramm challenged Bob Dole to sign Phyllis Schlafly’s pledge to retain GOP’s pro-life plank Dole defended his pro-life record, but, refused to sign. Pat Buchanan assailed abortion, outcome-based education, federal judges, “new world order.” Richard Lugar warned of fiscal and social dangers of states and cities growing dependent on gambling revenues. . . . Not invited: Arlen Specter, who has bashed Reed, the Coalition, its founder Pat Robertson. Specter complains, “You deny the most basic American rights—the right to speak out and the right to be heard as you seek to dominate the political process and dictate the Republican nominee for President for 1996.” . . . After conference, Robertson told reporters: “If there is a winner of this round, [it’s] Phil Gramm.” But he defended “lifelong conservative” Dole: “I don’t think Bob Dole is being some kind of chameleon.”

■ Richard Ben Cramer, updating his 1988 campaign book, asked what Dole would do first upon becoming President. Dole’s response: “Haven’t thought. . . . If I get elected at my age, you know . . . I’m not goin’ anywhere. It’s not an agenda. I’m just gonna serve my country.” David Keene, head of American Conservative Union and Dole advisor, comments: “Cicero he ain’t. He’s not really giving people what they expect from a presidential candidate, which is a sense of the world he wants to create and where he wants to lead them.” A consultant to Dole campaign told New Yorker’s Sidney Blumenthal that Dole “has the look of a guy who feels he’s being called onstage to have someone pull the trapdoor lever. He’s certain—certain—that something will go wrong. Reagan looked happier getting shot than Bob Dole will look getting nominated.” . . . After Barbara Walters interview with Colin Powell, Bill Lacy, deputy manager of Dole campaign, told New York Post’s Deborah Orin that Powell talk “helps our campaign, very simply because General Powell is out there getting a lot of attention that Phil Gramm or Pete Wilson or Lamar Alexander or Pat Buchanan isn’t.” . . . Presidential Fibs: Bill Clinton claims, “For two years, I said the Medicare Trust Fund was in trouble, and Mr. Gingrich and others mocked me and denied that it was in trouble.” Republican National Committee reveals results of Nexis search for keywords “Clinton” and “Medicare trust fund” during first two years of term: “Direct Quotes: Zero.” . . . Buchanan, desperate for campaign cash, is sending fund-raising appeals by costly certified mail, blames troubles on lack of “special-interest money from Wall Street and K Street.” . . . Gramm won another surprise victory in straw poll of National Federation of Republican Women. Dole placed third, behind Alexander; each got less than half Gramm’s support. . . . Steve Forbes, decrying lack of vision in presidential field, is about to enter the race.