NATION/WORLD UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Tuesday. January 25, 1994
7
Ethics Committee to get Sen. Packwood's diaries
The Associated Press
PROCEDURES
WASHINGTON — Sen. Bob Packwood's personal diaries are "unquestionably relevant" to the Senate Ethics Committee and must be provided to the panel, a federal judge ruled Monday.
U. S. District Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson said he had to "balance Sen. Packwood's expectations of privacy... against the Ethics Committee's interest in examining them for evidence of misconduct ..."
The panel is investigating the Oregon Republican for alleged sexual misconduct, witness intimidation and obstruction of the probe by Packwood's alleged alteration of the diaries.
Jackson ruled the subpoena did not violate Packwood's Fourth Amendment rights against over-broad searches. The committee met standards of reasonableness, he found.
Nor, Jackson concluded, did the committee violate the Oregon Republican's Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. Packwood lost that claim when the diaries were "voluntarily committed to paper" before the committee sought them.
The Senate demanded the diaries in a lawsuit after Packwood disobeyed the subpoena — arguing it violated his constitutional rights, by allowing the committee to "ruminate" through his most private thoughts.
The subpoena was issued after the panel found entries that investigators said raised questions about whether Packwood used his office to aid lobbyists and businessmen who offered his wife a job. The committee wants diaries from 1989 to the present to decide whether to make the job offers part of the investigation.
The Justice Department has started
a criminal investigation on the job offers and also has subpoenaed the diaries. Justice filed papers in secret that joined the Senate lawsuit for the diaries. The judge's ruling did not mention the department's demand.
Jackson set a hearing for Thursday to set procedures for the diaries to be provided. The court took custody of the recorded and transcribed materials last month after Senate lawyers contended the senator altered them while expecting a subpoena.
The committee is investigating allegations that Packwood made unwanted sexual advances to more than two dozen women, including Senate employees.
Jackson said it "would be presumpuous" of him to find the Ethics Committee's action unreasonable, when the Supreme Court "sustained a more extensive and intrusive examination" into Richard Nixon's private papers and recordings in Watergate.
WASHINGTON — Filling an embarrassing gap in his national security team, President Clinton promoted the Pentagon's No. 2 man to defense secretary Monday. Clinton called William J. Perry "a real pro," a man "you can depend on."
The quick reaction from Congress was enthusiastic, with predictions Perry would easily win confirmation.
Seemingly a reluctant warrior, Perry said he told White House representatives Saturday he could not accept at that point because "I did not want to drive my family into a decision — my decision — without their support."
After a talk with Vice President Al Gore and then a meeting with family members, Perry telephoned White House representatives Sunday to say he would accept an offer if one were forthcoming.
Perry, 66, is to replace outgoing Defense Secretary Les Aspin, who announced his resignation under pressure from the White House last month. Clinton's first choice to take Aspin's place, Bobby Inman, withdrew last week in a news conference filled with complaints about attacks from columnists and lawmakers.
The Associated Press
Perry, who also served in President Carter's Pentagon, is a former engineering professor and mathematician, and a key early supporter of stealth technology. He also is an Army veteran, perhaps positioned to help his commander-inchief improve relations with military leaders and wrestle with a shrinking Pentagon budget.
Clinton said he chose Perry "based on his lifetime of accomplishments and his solid leadership at the Pentagon."
"He has the right skills and management experience for the job. He has the right vision for the job," said Clinton, who credited Perry with being on the "cutting edge of defense issues."
Clinton predicted Perry would reform Pentagon spending procedures, keep a tight rein on the shrinking defense budget and maintain the nation's strong military force.
In contrast to Inman, who said he needed to reach a "comfort level" with Clinton, Perry quickly endorsed his commander-in-chief. "I have a great respect for the way you have been guiding national security," he told the president.
Aspin, who was eased out by Clinton, has agreed to remain aboard until his successor is confirmed.
Besides Perry's concern about his family, he also said over the weekend that he wanted to make sure he would have adequate access to the president, said an administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity. Poor communication with the Oval Office hurt Aspin.
Perry is highly regarded in the military, with a reputation for managing unwieldy bureaucracies. He is credited with pushing the successful stealth aviation technology on Air Force officials who resisted it in the 1970s.
As deputy defense secretary, Perry has overseen the daily business of the Pentagon, and traveled to Russia to promote the conversion of Russian weapons factories to non-military production.
Perry was easily confirmed last February as deputy secretary, with the only problem being a report that he participated in Pentagon budget discussions while still on the boards of defense companies. He denied the claim.
Clinton names new defense secretary
Although health care remains Clinton's top priority in his second year, polls suggest crime may be outspacing it as the major concern of most Americans.
"He'll be talking about health care, why that's important; crime, and how that affects us and what we need to do about it; welfare reform, a little further down in his speech, but not because it's less important," said White House press secretary Dee Dee Myers.
Address to tackle crime, health care
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON — President Clinton fine-tuned and practiced his first State of the Union address Monday, a speech aides said would emphasize the need for action this year on health care, anti-crime and worker retraining legislation.
Senate Republican Leader Bob Dole of Kansas will deliver a Republican response, his representatives announced.
In addition to health care, crime and welfare reform, the president is expected to stress "worker retraining and lifetime learning and ... ideas about reemployment." Myers said.
in the nationally broadcast speech to a joint House-Senate session Tuesday night, Clinton will reach out to middle-class Americans with a strong pitch for federal action against crime, while trying to rekindle interest in his universal health-care plan.
Although presidents rarely announce major policy initiatives in a State of the Union address, Clinton's aides were portraying this as a pivotal one designed to build support for his second-year initiatives.
Dole, meanwhile, will get 10 to 12 minutes of air time to respond after the president finishes, spokeswoman Kristin Hyde said. Traditionally, all the networks cover the opposing party's message live as well as the presidential address.
Dole probably will focus on health care and crime, two of the biggest issues facing Congress as it reconvenes, Hyde said.
In honor of a friend celebrate Tu B'Shevat (that Jewish Tree Holiday) by having a tree planted in the new
"MAKE THE DESERT BLOOM"
American Students Forest in the Negev desert. Israel.
Come by the Israel table in the Union on Friday to plant a tree in honor of a special occasion or friendship.
Compete Exercise Travel Meet new people
For More Info. Contact
Wendy Marshall 749-5645
or
Tina Cameli 865-4358
(Call Shelly Falevits or Brad Feinberg at 864-3948 if you have any questions.)
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