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NATION/WORLD
The Michigan Daily - Thursday, September 17, 1998 - 5A
Gingrich calls Clinton a 'misogynist'
WASHINGTON (AP) - Speaker Newt Gingrich
told fellow Republicans yesterday that President
Clinton's own account of his relationship with Monica
Lewinsky depicts him as a "misogynist," GOP con-
gressional sources said. Gingrich argued forcefully for
releasing a videotape of Clinton's grand jury testimo-
ny.
The sources, speaking on condition of anonymity,
said that at a closed-door meeting of GOP lawmakers
Gingrich detailed Clinton's version of events in his rela-
tionship with the young aide - multiple episodes in
which the president received oral sex without touching
her sexually and with no instances of sexual intercourse.
If that account is to be believed, Gingrich said,
Clinton's behavior is that of a "misogynist," a word
whose dictionary definition is a hatred of women.
Gingrich made the comment as he argued against
a suggestion that Republicans reconsider plans to
release a videotape of the president's Aug. 17 grand
jury testimony.
The full Judiciary Committee is to meet today in
closed-door session and is expected to vote to release
the videotape --- over the objection of Democrats --
as well as other evidence.
In the weekly GOP caucus, or conference, Gingrich
noted the House had voted last week to release the
material that Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr had
compiled as evidence of impeachable otTenses. The
speaker said Clinton's lawyers continue to mount a
leg listic defense, these sources added.
The speaker made his comments as the GOP point
person in the impeachment review, Rep. Henry lyde,
(R-ll.) conceded "youthful indiscretions" with a
woman more than three decades ago, at a time when
both were married to others. Hyde was 41 at the time.
- le issued the statement as Salon Magazine, an
online publication, circulated copies of an article
detailing an alleged affair between Hyde and the
woman in the 1960s.
In his statement, Hyde said, "The only purpose for
this being dredged up now is an obvious attempt to
intimidate me, and it won't work. ... I intend to fulfill
my constitutional duty and deal judiciously with the
serious felony allegations presented to Congress"
For his part, Clinton urged the public and Congress
to avoid getting "mired in all the details" of his rela-
tionship with Lewinsky.
Asked whether he might resign, he declined to
answer yes or no, responding instead that Americans
"want me to go on." le would not respond to ques-
tions about whether he had committed perjury or
whether Lewinsky told the truth when she described
their White house trysts.
According to several sources, Hyde earlier told the
GOP caucus that he had heard that friends of the
White House had hired two law firms to dig up
embarrassing information about prominent
Republicans. These sources said Ilyde provided no
details, and the White House has denied any such
"scorched earth strategy."
Hyde issued a memo to all members of his panel
this week noting media reports of a "scorched earth"
strategy by friends of the president. Ile asked commit-
tee members to notify him of any relevant information
and said the panel is prepared to "conduct a swill
investigation of such reports and refer all allegations"
to the Justice Department.
Christina Martin, Gingrich's press secretary,
issued a statement that did not confirm the speaker's
closed-door remarks but said: "Speaking with great
clarity and a calm focus, the speaker reminded mem-
bers that we have a duty to the American people as
voted on by Republicans and Democrats alike that
includes giving the public access to all the facts.
"They can reach their own conclusions free of spin
and misleading, she added.
The House voted last week, 363-63, to release the
18 boxes of evidence that Starr has submitted, minus
any material that the Judiciary Committee finds
unsuitable for the public.
The House can release grand jury material because
federal court rules saying such material should be kept
secret apply only to the judicial branch, Republicans
and a number of Democrats have said.
AP P HOTO
President Clinton and Czech President Vaclev Havel smile yesterday during
their joint news conference at the State Department In Washington.
CLI NTON
Continued from Page 1A
dent in the best light possible. Rather
than holding it in the usual White
House venues, the White House
chose a large auditorium at the Stae
Department, with employees at tl'e
rear applauding both Clinton's refer-
ences to foreign policy achievements
and expressions of "chagrin abopt
what (he) did wrong and determina-
tion to put it right"
The event - a joint news confor-
ence with Czech President Vaclev
Havel -- was emblematic of a
White House strategy that hias
emerged in the last few days: 13y
talking about issues, such as eco-
nomics and foreign policy, where he
has the most influence, showing a
calm demeanor, and generally refus-
ing to be drawn into a battle with
Congress over his punishment,
Clinton is trying to reclaim his
image as chief executive and shake
off the reputation of first cad.
"Last week you saw an enormous
display of contrition; this week
you're seeing his best effort to return
to the public policy arena," said one
senior White House official.
Clinton refused to be baited by
reporters yesterday about such
painful topics as the potentially dam-
aging release of the videotape.
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