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INVENTORY'
I
Mail 1993, 1995
MA661E WILLIAMS
Box 2
Gulf war Veterans
HRC Answered Letters
2
Regretted Invitations to MV
2
Armenian Observer Papers
f
For VIDEO - New World Foundation
5
Child Safety Communication
6
1993 - New Admin Hires
L
Adoption Info I
8
Adoption II
9
Chicago Children's Conference
10
Children's Conference
"
W. Downes
12
Tomie dePaola
13
Senate Info
14
Boshia
15
Gingrich Budget Article
16
Empower Amer ica
17
-
File - Center on Budget + Policy Priorities
Info on Reading Recovery
18
MV Talking Points
ENCLOSURES FILED OVERSIZE ATTACHMENTS 12631
NARA 10000
New
Fill -
From Melanne- -
Melanne
CONTENTS
Hillary Talking Points
1.
HILLARY CLINTON: AN ADVOCATE FOR AMERICA'S FAMILIES
AND CHILDREN
2.
HILLARY CLINTON'S LAW PRACTICE
3.
HILLARY CLINTON'S RECORD OF SERVICE ON BOARDS OF
AMERICAN INDUSTRIES
4.
HILLARY CLINTON'S SERVICE ON THE BOARD OF NEW WORLD
FOUNDATION
5.
HILLARY CLINTON'S WORK TO IMPROVE THE FUTURE FOR
AMERICA'S YOUTH
6.
HILLARY CLINTON'S WORK WITH THE LEGAL SERVICES
CORPORATION
7.
HILLARIOUS -- ANOTHER BASELESS REPUBLICAN ATTACK ON
HILLARY CLINTON
HILLARY CLINTON: AN ADVOCATE FOR AMERICA'S
FAMILIES AND CHILDREN
Hillary Clinton's life and work bespeaks a strong commitment to
families and to the community. For more than 20 years, she has worked -- as
a wife, mother, volunteer and lawyer -- to improve education, strengthen
families, and promote health care for children. She will continue to be a voice
for children and families when Bill Clinton is elected President of the United
States.
Hillary Clinton cares deeply about her own family and America's
children. She believes that we must invest in our children's education and
health if we want a promising future. As First Lady, Hillary Clinton
would continue to talk to people around the country and be a voice for
mothers, children and families.
Improving the Quality of Education: Hillary Clinton is an active
parent in the Little Rock School District, working to improve the
quality of education. She chaired the Arkansas Education Standards
Committee, which recommended changes to strengthen the
accreditation standards for the state's public schools and contributed
to the success of Governor Clinton's educational reform measures.
As a result of these reforms, students are scoring better on tests and
graduating from high school and attending college in record
numbers. The accreditation standards Hillary Clinton helped
develop have become a model for states around the nation.
Reducing Infant Mortality: Hillary Clinton served on the Southern
Governor's Association Task Force on Infant Mortality. In
Arkansas, she helped establish the first neo-natal nursery in the state
at Arkansas Children's Hospital, and now serves on the Hospital's
Board of Trustees.
Outstanding Mother and Advocate: In 1984, Mrs. Clinton was
named the Young Mother of the Year in Arkansas. She has been
recognized by the National Law Journal, the University of
Arkansas, and the National Women's Economic Alliance for her
work to improve the quality of life for families and children in
America. She has also been acknowledged for her efforts to protect
children from abuse and neglect.
Promoting Children and Family Interests: In 1977, Hillary Clinton
founded Arkansas' Advocates for Children and Families, an
organization that promotes responsible parenting, and health and
education for Arkansas' children. She also joined the Board of
Directors of the Children's Defense Fund (CDF) in 1976, and
chaired the Board from 1986 until earlier this year. CDF advocates
on behalf of American children and their families. The organization
has a special interest in the needs of poor children.
Helping Disadvantaged Parents Prepare their Children for School:
Hillary Clinton brought the Home Instruction Program for Pre-
school Youth to Arkansas. This program trains disadvantaged
parents to teach their pre-school children the skills they will need to
succeed in school. It encourages parents to take an active role in
the education of their children.
In her book, First Teachers, Barbara Bush praises Hillary Clinton's
Home Instruction Program for Pre-School Youth. Mrs. Bush told USA
Today, August 14, 1992, that she had heard about Hillary Clinton's work
on literacy and was so impressed that she invited her to talk about it at a
White House tea.
Hillary Clinton raised the issue of infant mortality with President
Bush. He wrote to thank her for making him aware of gravity of the
problem -- the dimensions of which he found surprising.
What Hillary Clinton has stood for over the course of the last 20
years, and what she and Bill Clinton still believe, is common sense:
children need to grow up in a strong and loving family. Her work on
behalf of children has always rested on the premise that families must
flourish for children to thrive.
2
HILLARY CLINTON'S LAW PRACTICE
Hillary Clinton is a partner at the Rose Law Firm in Little Rock,
Arkansas. She specializes in litigation and was named one of "The 100 Most
Influential Lawyers in America" in 1988 and 1991 by The National Law
Journal. She was also appointed to chair an American Bar Association
Commission on women in the legal profession and engaged in a myriad of pro-
bono activities. As an attorney practicing in the state where her husband serves
as Governor, Hillary Clinton has met the highest ethical standards to prevent
even the appearance that she, her firm or their clients received any special
treatment from the state, or benefited in any way by virtue of her relationship
to the Governor.
Hillary Clinton and the Rose Law Firm have exceeded their
ethical responsibilities to prevent conflicts of interest.
Hillary Clinton has never shared in the firm's profits from state
agency contracts. She also excludes from her partnership share
those fees earned through the firm's work as bond counsel.
She has never worked on state bond matters or on behalf of state
agencies. She also does not represent clients before state regulatory
boards.
The Rose Law Firm does minimal work for Arkansas state
government compared with other top Arkansas law firms.
The Rose Law Firm has been hired by a few state agencies over
the years and has provided legal services on a number of state bond
issues. As an old, respected firm, its state business preceded
Hillary Clinton's arrival at the firm and is unrelated to Hillary
Clinton.
Last year, the Rose Law Firm ranked 21st among the top 25
Arkansas law firms doing business with the state. Certainly, the
state has not funneled work to the Rose Law Firm.
From 1983 through 1991, less than one percent of the total fees
state agencies have paid to law firms have gone to the Rose Law
Firm. The firm earned 11 percent of all legal fees paid to law firms
for bond work during this time; these fees come not from taxpayers,
but from bond revenues. Other law firms have earned significantly
more.
Hillary Clinton does not represent clients in matters before state
agencies and did not endeavor to influence state regulators on behalf
of Madison Guaranty.
Critics have alleged that Hillary Clinton represented the Madison
Guaranty Savings & Loan -- a bank owned in part by the Clintons'
business partner, James McDougal -- in a proceeding before a
newly appointed state security commissioner. This allegation
misrepresents the facts.
The Rose Law Firm represented Madison Guaranty. A partner
at the firm, who was a long-time associate of the chairman of
Madison Guaranty, met with the state securities commission to
discuss the case. Hillary Clinton did not intervene or attempt to
influence any state agency or regulator on behalf of Madison
Guaranty, and the savings and loan institution did not receive any
preferential treatment through its representation by the Rose Law
Firm.
Through her work with the American Bar Association's
Commission on Women and through other pro-bono activities, Hillary
Clinton has helped women in the legal profession and families around
the country.
As Chair of the Commission on Women, Hillary Clinton
addressed the problems that women face as lawyers. In addition,
she focused on ways to make the workplace more responsive to the
needs of families.
The Commission encouraged the legal profession to remove
obstacles to women's advancement in the profession. It also
recommended a series of pro-family workplace policies for lawyers,
2
including parental leave and alternative work schedules.
Hillary Clinton has contributed her time and effort to improving
the quality of life for American children and families in Arkansas
and around the country. She has worked on improving standards
for Arkansas' public schools; reducing infant mortality; improving
early childhood education; solving the problem of illiteracy; and
expanding opportunities for the millions of Americans who are not
college-bound.
Hillary Clinton is a role model for women who work outside the
home as well as for those who are full-time mothers.
As a professional, a mother and the wife of the Governor of
Arkansas, Hillary Clinton has faced her share of challenges. She
has helped carve a path for other women who choose a career or
who choose to be a full-time mother.
She has also helped sort out the very tricky issues that arise when
a member of the family is a public servant or an elected official.
3
HILLARY CLINTON'S RECORD OF SERVICE
ON BOARDS OF AMERICAN INDUSTRIES
Hillary Clinton is known for her work on behalf of American children
and families. She has also served on the boards of a number of leading
American businesses. She understands that many difficulties American
families face stem directly from the fact that our economy is weak and many
of our jobs have left the country. She has also learned how better to prepare
American youth -- through education and training -- to live productive lives
in the future. Hillary Clinton's work with industry has convinced her that if
we are to compete in the international economy we must improve health and
education for our children.
Hillary Clinton served on the boards of three major corporations: the
LaFarge Corporation, Wal-Mart, and TCBY. She was asked to serve
because of her many accomplishments on behalf of families and children and
her interest in increasing economic opportunities for all Americans. Hillary
Clinton resigned from her board memberships in May 1992 because of the
time constraints of the presidential race. During her tenure, she took
extraordinary steps to ensure that neither she nor the corporation received any
special treatment by virtue of her relationship to the Governor.
The LaFarge Corporation: Hillary Clinton became the first
woman to join the Board of the French-owned LaFarge
Corporation in 1991. LaFarge is a Virginia based subsidiary
of a French company that has 16 cement factories throughout
the U.S. and is the fifth largest cement company in the nation.
She accepted the invitation to work with the company to learn
about basic industries and how best to rebuild America's
infrastructure.
The LaFarge Corp. burns toxic waste in its production of cement.
It has waste-burning plants in Florida, Pennsylvania, Texas,
California, Michigan and Alabama. LaFarge take hazardous
waste materials from companies around the country and uses
them as a fuel to produce cement.
Questions have been raised about LaFarge's practice of using
hazardous waste as a fuel in cement kilns. As with any process
of treating hazardous waste materials, environmentalists and
residents near LaFarge incineration plants have raised questions
about the safety of the burning process. Hillary Clinton made a
point to obtain information from the company about the steps it
planned to take to ensure safety and protect the environment.
The LaFarge Company burns hazardous waste under strict
controls and converts the waste to non-hazardous materials. Last
year, LaFarge safely destroyed 77 million gallons of hazardous
waste, reducing the amount of hazardous materials which had to
be stored in a waste site. Many studies and experts have
concluded that properly operated kilns burning hazardous waste
fuels do not threaten the environment or the public health. The
company was not cited for violation of state or federal regulations
during Hillary Clinton's tenure on the Board.
Wal-Mart: Hillary Clinton joined the board of the Arkansas-based
company Wal-Mart in 1986. She had spent years working with the
late Sam Walton, Wal-Mart's founder, as well as with other
executives on education reform in the state of Arkansas.
As the late Sam Walton's biographer told the Wall Street Journal,
"[Hillary Clinton] wasn't on the board just because she was the
governor's wife. [Sam Walton] had a lot of respect for her. He
really listened to her."
Wal-Mart is important to the state of Arkansas and to
communities across the country. It employs thousands of people
across the country and its "Buy America" program saves
thousands of jobs from going overseas.
Wal-Mart provides consumers with high value at low prices. The
company is also recognized for its excellent employee policies.
The company has training and benefit programs for employees
that serve as models throughout the country.
TCBY (The Country's Best Yogurt): In 1989, Hillary Clinton
2
joined the board of the Arkansas-based national frozen yogurt
company TCBY. TCBY is an innovative company that serves the
needs of health conscious Americans. It is a relatively new
company born from the entrepreneurial spirit that characterizes
American business.
The Southern Development Bancorporation: Hillary Clinton has
served on the Board of Directors of the Southern Development
Bancorporation since its inception. The development bank infuses
rural Arkansas with new capital and provides technical assistance to
small business and has been successful in promoting rural job
development.
3
FIRST
TEACHERS
A family literacy handbook for parents,
policy-makers, and literacy providers
The Barbara Bush Foundation
For Family Literacy
First Teachers
A Family Literacy Handbook
for Parents, Policy-Makers,
and Literacy Providers
The Barbara Bush Foundation
for Family Literacy
The mission of The Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy
is:
to establish literacy as a value in every family in America by
helping parents everywhere understand that the home is the child's
first school. the parent is the child's first teacher. and reading is the
child's first subject: and
to break intergenerational cycles of illiteracy by supporting the
development of literacy programs that build families of readers.
The Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy
1002 Wisconsin Avenue. NW
Washington. DC 20007
(202) 338-2006
ARKANSAS
HOME INSTRUCTION
PROGRAM FOR PRESCHOOL
YOUNGSTERS (HIPPY)
HIPPY-R.Re Ann Fields. 1988
"I always knew / could feed and clothe my son, but I never tried to
teach him anything because I thought anything I taught him would be
wrong.
-HIPPY Parent
Background
The Home Instruction Program was developed in 1969 by a team headed
by Dr. Avima D. Lombard at the NCJW Research Institute for Innovation
in Education, at Hebrew University in Jerusalem. Israel. Initiated as a
research project, it was designed to examine the feasibility and effect of
home-based educational intervention involving mothers and their pre-
school children from educationally disadvantaged sectors of the country.
The goal was to prepare immigrant children to enter the highly competi-
tive Israeli education system. In 1975, the project passed from the
research phase to the operational phase on a country-wide basis, and
today, almost twenty years later, it serves approximately 13,000 families
yearly in more than 110 urban and rural communities. It also exists in five
other countries and seven American states. While it is funded by the
Israeli Ministry of Education and Culture, Hebrew University maintains
control over the implementation and coordination of the program.
HIPPY came to America in 1982 virtually unchanged. The
following events helped to shape the Arkansas HIPPY experience:
September 1985: Hillary Rodham Clinton, first lady of Arkansas.
read about HIPPY in the Miami Herald and decided to investigate
the prospects of bringing it to Arkansas.
February 1986: Following five months of study and exploration,
the governor's office. in partnership with two state agencies,
sponsored a one-day conference introducing HIPPY to state edu-
cators and community leaders.
June 1986: Four women from Arkansas went to Israel to the HIPPY
International Workshop.
September 1986: The first four pilot programs began in Little
Rock, Pulaski County, Russellville, and Pine Bluff.
April 1987: As the first year drew to a close, another conference
36
was held to invite interested parties to see how the program was
doing. Following this conference. six more Arkansans attended the
next HIPPY International Workshop, and as a result, six additional
programs began in the state in September 1987.
June 1988: Four more Arkansans went to Israel as four new
programs were developed. Currently, as the 1988-89 school year
ends. there are fourteen sites in twenty-three Arkansas counties.
with expectations of more programs to begin in September 1989.
The Program
Setting: A unique feature of the HIPPY program is the fact that it is
home-based rather than located at a site outside the home. Twice a month
a paraprofessional. who must also be a mother or father from the same
community, visits the parent and works with him or her on weekly
lessons. On alternating weeks the parents gather for group meetings.
Currently there are seven programs in public school districts. six that are
based in community centers, YWCAs and community action agencies,
and one that is run through a state educational cooperative.
Funding
The program is currently funded through the Job Training Partnership
Act (Chapters I and II) Planning and Development money from the
Department of Vocational Education, Save the Children Federation,
and the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation.
Components
The instructional program consists of packets of programmed
material that concentrate on language, discrimination skills. and
problem solving. The degree of difficulty increases throughout the
two-year period.
Language instruction is carried out using storybooks given to the
families. Parents learn how to ask questions about details of
content, vocabulary, and concepts.
Daily worksheets track the lessons from the stories. The work-
sheets serve as guides for sensory-discrimination skills by offering
visual, auditory, and tactile exercises. Problem-solving exercises
require the child to list. sort, match. and group attributes and ideas.
Parents are required to work with their children fifteen minutes a
37
day. five days a week. thirty weeks annually for two years. the
second of which IS the year the child is in kindergarten.
The parent is trained by a paraprofessional from the same commu-
nity who also has a four-year-old in HIPPY. The paraprofessional
visits the home every other week.
Twice a month the mothers and fathers gather for group meetings
with their paraprofessionals to receive the next week's lesson. and also
to learn to interact with other parents in the program. They share their
experiences. talk about their problems, reinforce their goals. and lend
one another support. In-service programs covering subjects such as
health. safety, and citizenship are also provided.
Each program has one coordinator for every twelve paraprofes-
sionals. Each paraprofessional works with ten to fifteen families.
Evidence of Success
Tests administered to both parents and children before and after the
program indicate gains. For example, in the fall of 1986. 6 percent
of the children in one district entering HIPPY tested average and
none tested above average. In the spring of 1988. 74 percent of the
children in the second year of the program tested average or above.
The program has been replicated around the state.
HIPPY parents are asking for more literacy help, going back to
school. and seeking employment. They are registering to vote.
Parents are more involved in their children's school work and are more
apt to provide necessary school supplies, such as paper and books.
Advice to Policy-Makers
and Practitioners
"When we first began studying HIPPY in Arkansas. emphasis was on
the child. If the child did well. then the mother would enjoy a feeling
of success. Now, in Arkansas and throughout the nation where HIPPY
is being implemented. the focus appears to be shifting toward the
mother's growth. If we are able to give her a program where she can
teach her child and make a positive contribution to his or her
education, if we can help her realize the possibilities of growth within
herself. if we can open doors for her that have never been open for her,
then we have helped not only her and her child but the entire family."
-Ann Kamps, Special Assistant
for Early Childhood Programs
38
FIRST
TEACHERS
"Parents are their children's first and
most influential teachers. What par-
ents do to help their children learn is
more important to academic success
than how well-off the family is."
(What Works: Research About Teaching and Learning,
U.S. Department of Education. 1987)
The Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy
1002 Wisconsin Avenue, NW
Washington. DC 20007
Cover photograph by Carol T. Powers/THE WHITE HOUSE
The Washington Post
August 26, 1992
Syndicated
Bush campaign awash with lies
By. George F. Will
Hillary Clinton is being "borked."
The verb "to bork" means to lie
The Washington Post
about the writings of a public figure.
There is rough justice in what she is
Washington
undergoing. Lots of her friends par-
When George Bush's campaign slith-
ticipated in the borking of Robert
ered through Georgia, Rep. Newt
Bork, and she no doubt enjoyed it.
Gingrich rose to the challenge of low-
Still. Bush campaigners are lying
ering still further the tone of it. Ging-
about her record.
rich, whose high rank in the Republi-
can leadership is the only good rea-
Soon Bill Clinton will have to say to
son for hoping Democratic control of
Bush what Dole publicly said to Bush
the House continues, told a Bush
in 1988: "Stop lying about my rec-
rally that Woody Allen is "a perfect
ord." Bush says Clinton has raised
model of Bill Clinton Democratic
taxes 128 times. Bush says this even
values" and that "Woody Allen hav-
though columnist Michael Kinsley
mg nonincest with a nondaughter to
has demonstrated that the list of "tax
whom he was a nonfather because
increases" is a tissue of faisehoods.
they were a nonfamily fits the Demo-
(Some taxes are counted several
cratic platform perfectly."
times; components of a tax are
counted as separate taxes: minor fees,
That would cost Gingrich his reputa-
such as the $1 court cost imposed on
tion for seriousness if he still had
convicted criminals, are counted as
one, and it illustrates how cynicism
taxes.) By the tendentious criteria
at the top of the Republican ticket
used by the Bush campaign, Bush has
pervades the entire party. Gingrich
Newt Gingrich
raised taxes more often in four years
did not, in any meaningful sense,
than Clinton has in 12.
mean what he said. He was just emit-
On television last Sunday Robert
ting the sort of noise that character-
Teeter. Bush campaign co-chair, was
So. what does Teeter say of the 128
izes what Bush calls his campaign
asked about the constant attacks on
number? "We're not going to quit
about "trust."
Hillary Clinton at the Republican
saying it about Mr. Clinton."
convention. Teeter, two-stepping,
Gingrich's synthetic sincerity was
said, "I personally don't think Hilla-
Bush operatives constantly whine
further displayed as he hyperventilat-
ry Clinton is much of - part of an
about the media but Bush is benefit-
ed about Clinton's joking remark,
issue of this campaign and I've said
ing from the mock sophistication of
months ago, that maybe he should
that a number of times." And no
journalists who, striking a world-wea-
have inhaled that marijuana (thereby
doubt will have occasions to say it,
ry stance, say of his campaign dis-
escaping the ridicule his "I didn't
piously, an additional number of
honesty. "It was ever thus in Ameri-
inhale" has evoked). Gingrich calls
times before November.
can politics." Even if that were true,
Clinton's remark "the single most
it would be no excuse, and it isn't
destructive action by a politician in
Can't Bush's people be honest about
true. This is extraordinary.
my lifetime." Gingrich's lifetime be-
anything? Hillary Clinton is an issue
gan in 1943. Make your own list of
and should be. She is an experienced,
Today honorable conservatives feel
the evils Gingrich considers less sig-
outspoken advocate about various
the sort of fury felt by honorable
nificant.
causes and she probably would influ-
conservatives 40 years ago when Joe
ence the tone and direction of a Clin-
McCarthy was giving anticommun-
After Gingrich regaled the crowd
ton administration.
ism a bad name. There is a strong
with his Woody Allen japes, a Bush
case to be made against Clinton con-
aide said, "The president does not
The problem is not that the Bush
cerning school choice, term limits,
want to make Woody Allen an is-
campaign obviously thinks she is an
protectionism, automobile fuel effi-
sue." There they go again, dancing
issue. but that the campaign is so
ciency standards, his ties to trial law-
the Bush Two-Step. The campaign
mendacious when portraying what
yers. his running mate's environmen-
always dissociates itself from the
she has written. (A bulletin: She does
tal hysteria, and much more. But
stream of dishonesty that is steady.
not think 12-year-olds should be able
serious people flinch from being as-
to sue parents if asked to take out the
sociated with the intellectual slum
Nothing new here. In 1988, when
garbage.) Peter Hart, the Democratic
that is the Bush campaign, with its
Bush's Iowa campaign smeared Eliz-
consultant. says this is Republican
riffraff of liars and aspiring ayatol-
abeth Dole, Robert Dole asked Bush,
strategy: Instead of running Bush-
lahs.
on the Senate floor, if Bush had au-
Quayle against Clinton-Gore, Repub-
thorized it. Said Bush: Maybe I did
licans want to eclipse their least pop-
Bush calls his campaign "a crusade to
and maybe I didn't. That is how
ular and the Democrats' most popu-
bring back values." His campaign is
Bush's various campaigns have
lar candidate. running George and
powerful evidence of the need for
talked to the nation: down. Read my
Barbara against Bill and Hillary.
such a crusade.
curled lip.
The New York Times, August 24, 1992
Legal Scholars See Distortion
In Attacks on Hillary Clinton
By TAMAR LEWIN
drag their parents into court for a
Hillary Clinton, whose aggressive
starting with her work in 1974 for the
judicial ruling on whether they must
campaign style and dedication to chil-
House Judiciary Committee, which
take out the garbage, although the arti-
dren's causes seemed a political asset
recommended three articles of im-
cle never made any such assertion.
for Democrats at the beginning of the
In the same article, Mrs. Clinton
peachment against President Richard
herself discusses the concern that the
campaign season, now finds those qual-
M. Nixon, and continuing first as a
courts will become too intrusive on
ities under full-scale attack as the Re-
board member and by 1978 as chair-
family matters, and says specifically
publicans try to turn her into a symbol
manef the Legal Services Corporation,
that she favors judicial intervention in
of anti-family values.
a federally financed independent cor-
only the most extreme cases, in which
The overall strategy appears to be to
poration that provides legal aid to the
irreparable harm is threatened.
paint Mrs. Clinton as a radical femi-
poor. in civil cases, and was anathema
She goes on to list cases in which that
nist, in contrast with her Republican
to the*Reagan Administration.
might be true. from decisions about
counterparts: Barbara Bush, the quint-
But-for all her public activities, it is
abortion or motherhood, treatment of
essential grandmother, and Marilyn
the two obscure academic articles
venereal disease, employment, school-
Quayle who, like Mrs. Clinton, is a
fromathe 1970's that have spawned
ing and cosmetic surgery, a category
lawyer but has put aside her own ca-
most of the current furor.
that some conservatives interpreted to
reer to support her husband's. And the
In Mhe first, "Children Under the
indicate that teen-agers would be able
Law;"a Harvard Educational Review
to sue their parents for the right to
focus of the attack is on two passages
from Mrs. Clinton's legal writings, in
arthele written in 1973, Mrs. Clinton
have a nose job or liposuction.
discusses the nascent children's rights
law-review articles from the 1970's.
An Unlikely Interpretation
movement. Describing the legal status
A typical attack came from Patrick
of children, she refers to several class-
But that is an unlikely reading, given
J. Buchanan, who said in his speech to
both the context of the article, which in
es of people, including wives, slaves
and Indians, that have historically been
the previous paragraph discusses a
the Republican National Convention on
Monday night that Mrs. Clinton be-
treated as dependents, legally unable
case involving Jehovah's Witnesses
who object to medical treatment for
lieved that "12-year-olds should have a
to speak for themselves.
right to sue their parents," and that she
Conservatives bridle not only at that
had "compared marriage and the fam-
comparison, but also at the argument
their children, and the existing cases in
in the article that the legal presump-
which parents have refused. on reli-
ily as institutions to slavery and life on
tion that children are incompetent
an Indian reservation."
gious grounds, to allow plastic surgery
should, be discarded because there is
for children with cleft palates or other
Legal scholars familiar with Mrs.
such a large difference between the
serious conditions.
Clinton's work say the Republican crit-
capabilities of a newborn and those of a
In recent years, courts have increas-
ics are grossly distorting her positions.
teen-ager.
ingly begun to consult older children
When the phrases in question are read
Mrs. Clinton maintains that, since
about their views and, as Mrs. Clinton
in context, these scholars said, Mrs.
children mature gradually, it is absurd
suggests, recognize that there are situ-
Clinton's articles raise few eyebrows.
to assign 17-year-olds the same pre-
ations in which children's interests di-
sumption of incompetence as babies
verge from those of their parents. For
But the attention to the two articles is a
and then, suddenly; the day they attain
example, the Supreme Court has up-
majority, grant them all the rights of
held the right of minor girls to get an
striking indication of just how hot a
adults. Rather, she said, courts should
abortion without their parents' permis-
political issue the debate over women's
take"a case-by-case view, presuming
sion when a judge authorizes the pro-
roles has become in this Presidential
competence except where there is evi-
cedure.
election.
dencé otherwise.
While some conservaties are dis-
Politics aside, the dispute reflects a
12-Year-Olds in Court
tressed by such judicial intervention,
fundamental disagreement between
legal experts say there is nothing radi-
n'"the second article, "Children's
conservatives and liberals over the
cal about Mrs. Clinton's views.
Rights: A Legal Perspective," Mrs.
role of government and the courts in
"Her basic position, that discrimina-
Clinton wrote in 1979 that while new-
family life, with conservatives general-
tion against children requires justifica-
borns are obviously incompetent to
tion and that courts should have the
ly arguing that parents should have
present their own views, "it is more
opportunity to take children's views
near-total authority over family mat-
difficult to prove a 12-year-old child
into account, is more or less taken for
ters, and liberals arguing that there
totally incompetent, and I think impos-
granted among people who have
are extreme circumstances in which
sible, to presume the typical 16-year-old
thought about children's rights," said
either the greater social welfare, or the
incompetent." Yet the law, she went on,
children's beliefs and preferences,
"basically treats all these children, at
should outweigh parental authority.
their dissimilar stages of life, as in-
Mrs. Clinton has long been identified
competent and ignores psychological
and social realities."
with causes that conservatives dislike,
Some conservatives have interpret-
ed that passage to mean that Mrs.
Clinton would allow 12-year-olds to
In Her Words
In 1973, Hillary Clinton wrote an article in The Harvard
Educational Review describing how the law had historically
treated certain classes of people as dependents on others, without
Sanford J. Fox, a professor at Boston
the legal right to speak for themselves.
College Law School who is chairman of
an American Bar Association commit-
"
The rationale for depriving
position. It is presumed that
tee on children's rights. "Her articles
were important, not because they were
people of rights in a
under the circumstances.
radically new but because they helped
dependency relationship is that
society is doing what is best-loiz
formulate something that had been in-
certain individuals are
the individuals. Along with the
choate."
incapable or undeserving of the
family, past and present
Radical Views Denied
right to take care of themselves
examples of such
Experts in family law say the views
and consequently need social
arrangements included
Mrs. Clinton expressed in her articles
have never been perceived as radical
institutions specifically
marriage, slavery and the
by lawyers in the field, and are being
designed to safeguard their
Indian reservation system."
seriously misstated by her critics.
"Anyone who fairly reads what Hil-
lary Clinton wrote, in the context of her
Her article on children's rights appeared in a 1979 book,
work over the last 20 years on behalf of
"Children's Rights: Contemporary Perspectives."
children, would see how outrageous it
is to suggest that she is a kiddie-libber
"
hellbent on destroying the American
Even among persons In the
term and possible irreparable
family, or encouraging crackpot suits
children's rights movement,
effects if they were not
by kids against their parents," said
there is a concern that
resolved. Decisions about
Robert Mnookin, a children's law ex-
extending rights to children
motherhood and abortion,
pert at Stanford Law School.
But as the attacks against Mrs. Clin-
against their parents is too
schooling, cosmetic surgery,
ton escalated, George Stephanopoulos,
difficult to control and in all but
treatment of venereal disease.
the Clinton campaign's communica-
the most extreme cases such
or employment and others
tions director, found himself forced to
questions should be resolved by
where the decision or lack of
defend her record on children.
the families, not the courts. I
"She's done good work for children
one will significantly affect the
and families," he said last Tuesday on
prefer that intervention into an
child's future should not be
the ABC News program "Nightline,"
ongoing family be limited to
made unilaterally by parents.
citing her efforts to start one of the
decisions that could have long-
first neonatal nurseries in Arkansas.
He also described her work on an Ar-
kansas program to help parents en-
courage their children's literacy and
school preparedness - a program that
housed is anti-family, than we're all
tion's Commission on Women in the
not only served as a model for similar
crazy," said Marian Wright Edelman,
Profession.
programs elsewhere, but also was sin-
the president of the Children's Defense
She worked for the Children's De-
gled out by the Barbara Bush Founda-
Fund, which Mrs. Clinton served as
fense Fund, a Washington-based advo-
tion for Family Literacy as one of the
chairman until recently. "This is a
cacy group that lobbies on behalf of
most valuable in the nation.
woman with a deep commitment to
poor children, after her graduation
Susan Thomases, a longtime Clinton
seeing that children's needs are met. I
from law school in 1973. She joined the
friend who is the campaign's schedul-
can't believe someone is picking a fight
group's board of directors in 1976 and
ing director, said Mrs. Clinton would
about that."
became chairman in 1986.
not be interviewed about the efforts to
Many say they are also baffled by
portray her as anti-family.
her portrayal as a wild-eyed radical,
Many of Mrs. Clinton's admirers say
since most of her professional career
the efforts to portray her as anti-family
Changing Her Image
has been spent as a corporate litigator
are a measure of the conservatives'
Indeed, although Mrs. Clinton was
at the Rose Law Firm, an old, estab-
unwillingness to accept working moth-
originally seen as a formidable cam-
lished corporate law firm in Little
ers, who make up a majority of moth-
paigner and hailed as a model new
Rock. Ark., and she was the firm's first
ers in the United States.
woman, able to balance her family life
female partner.
"The Republicans seem to be in deni-
with a thriving law practice, by early
Active in Many Causes
al, to be wearing blinders to all families
summer she had retreated to the side-
except those middle-class families in
lines, appearing publicly only as a quiet
Mrs. Clinton, a Wellesley College po-
which the wives do not have to work,"
presence at her husband's side.
litical science graduate who served as
said Dr. T. Berry Brazelton, a pediatri-
Mrs. Clinton's friends and colleagues
president of the student government,
cian, author and children's advocate.
say they are appalled by her new im-
has had dozens of causes and affili-
"It makes my stomach curl. Hillary
age as anti-family, given her 20 years
ations, from serving on the board of the
Clinton has a career and a family, and
of work on children's issues.
Children's Television Workshop, the
she is not only making it work for her
"If being for children being fed and
group that produces "Sesame Street,"
family, but serving as a good model for
being healthy and being safe and being
to heading the American Bar Associa-
others."
Andrea Monin/ The New York Times
The Republicans' overall strategy appears to be to paint Hillary Clinton
as a : radical feminist, attacking two passages from her legal writings
AUG
13
'92
07:27
DEM NAT COMMITTEE
GOP Targets Hillary Clinton's Views on Family,
But Some Experts Cite Distortion of Her Position
By CATHY THOUP
abused by his father and abandoned by his
And JETTRRY H. BURKAUM
to keep them from attending mg) school
mother to be represented by a lawyer to an
for reitgious reasons: to have cosmetic
stalf Reporters of THE WALL PYRKING JOURNAL
attempt to terminate his parents' rights
Republican National Chairman Rich
surgery for a disfiguring facts deformity
and be adopted by his foster family.
Bond has identified 1 major throat to the
U the parents were apposed for religions
The only place that the was expecitly
American family: Hillary Clinton.
Teasons. to have a say when a c.ik
recognizing that the law ought to recognize
Advising Democratic presidential nom-
to complete high action) but his parents
Independence for children apart trom
need him to work on thotr farm.
Inco BOI Clinton "Bl every step of the way
adults was in circumstances where the
"Decisions about motherhood and
is that champion of
decision has irreversible consequences."
the family. Millary
abortion, schooling, coemetts surgery.
CAMPAIGN
Cary Melton. director of the Center 8
Clinton. who be
treatment of venerent disease, or employ
Children. Families and the Law at the
lieves kids should
ment. and others where the decision or
University of Nebraska. says of Mrs.
be able to sue their
Lack of ase will significantly affect the
parents rather than
92
Clinton. "Thei's fairty close to whal the
child's future should not be made unilater
law actually ig." be adds.
alty by parents." the wrote. "Children
helping with the
The accusations against Mrs. Clinton
chores that they
should have a right to be. permitted to
largely stam from articles she has written
decide. their own future If they are
were asked to du."
on children's rights, sorne of thom going
teat."
the party chairman
back to the earty 1370a. as was as her more
Some critics have selend 00 Mrs. Clin
declared yesterday during the preliminar-
recent service as chairman of the Chil-
ton't reference to cosmetic surgery, sur-
ics to the GOP convention in Houston.
dren's Defense Fund, & Washington-based
resung she would extend legal rights to
Mr. Clinion responded that the Reputall-
advocacy group, Adding to conserveure
children to permit them to legally
I
cans "don't have & record they can run on.
suspicions of her W her previous service on
nose jobs and other costanue
don't have a vision for the future. to
the board of a foundation that has sup-
ments. Actually, there is a body of
they're sitacking my wile." He termed Mr.
ported numerous left-of-conter causes.
involving serious disputes
VERIOUS
Bond's remarks "pitful."
The subject that has mostly animated
states have attempted to mandate medical
The Republicans have clearly Identi-
Mrs. Clinton's activities. calldren's FIEDLE.
treatment for barelips, cleft palates and
fied attacks on Mrs. Clinten as a major
has undergone major changes in the past
other disfiguring and health-threatening
wespon in their campaign arrenal. Press-
15 years, since a 1967 Supreme Court
conditions.
dent Bush himsolf. seeking to make "Tam-
doctaion that gave due-process rights to
In most of these cases, which trace back
ily values" an issue. has charged in a
juveniles in delinquency proceedings and
to the 1950s. the disputes are between
relied reference to Mrs. Cuntos that the
declared for the first time that a child is a
states and parents who have religious or
Democrate "even encourage kids to hire
person under the Constitution.
philosophical opposition to: surgery. in
Lawyers and haus their parents tnto
in her writings. Ms. Clinton acknow)-
1972. in I protest State case in Pennsylva-
court."
edged that the law fundamentally recogn
nia. the courts decided that a child's
But a number of legal experts who have
bizes the important relationship between
and wishes should be given heavy
reviewed Mrs. Clinion's writings my her
children and parents and tries to maintain
cration, even when weighed against the
opponents are seriously disterting her so
those use whenever possible. and warned
parents' religious beliefs.
tual position. Far from advocating letting
about the problems of state intrusions tous
Still, some conservative legal
kids sue their parents to demand a birger
the family. But the and children may have
find her work troubling. in ber WITHING
allowance, they say. Mrs. Clinton's argu-
separate legal interests from their persons
MR. Cititen advocated that children be
ments have focused on Issues of parental
in certain extreme situations.
presumed competent until other
abuse. medical negiect and the like - is-
These cares involved such issues as the
wise. MYTHE the law treats at
Я
a
sues such as those raised in the recent.
right of responsible minors to have an
all ages the same when some older
widely publicised Florida case in which a
abortion without parental consent: to have
drea are clearly more responsible than
judge allowed a 12-year ord who bad been
& voice in a decision where parents wanted
younger mes. She also said a a be
given all due-process Fights m foral pro-
coudings where states or third
moved against them and BECKUE matters
were at stake. though states
Withhoto
certain rights on a case-by-case basis.
Some warry that presuming all children
competent would indeed open the way for
courts to Intervene in traditional 11
disputes. It's "$" very revolutionary raes
WALL STREET JOURNAL
and one that is very flawed"
It's
subjective, says Lynn Wardle. a law
feasur at Brigham Young University.
- - - . - - w -
just think it's wrong, it's impressical.
THURSDAY. AUGUST 12. 1983
-
1
a would result in a tremendoos
to that every time you wanted to t
& child's allowance you have to go. to
lawyer."
"I don't see that she
a
the
children should sue their PI
the
smallest Utile think.
but I'm not saying
her
principle
docsn't lead as to
that." adds Debra
Crusl. director of
The Landmark Con-
Lar for Cird Rights,
& conservative pub-
lic-interest
law
first Ukimately,
she warns. "N has
the potential of -
dermining
the
concept
13
'92
07:28
DEM NAT COMMITTEE
PAGE
4
But Robert a LAW
professor and I uther of "Child, Family and
State." says it's "preposterous" to argue
that Mrs. Clinton "believes that lawsuits
are the appropriate means for parents and
children to resolve their disagreements."
Mrs. Clinton herself has argued in her
writings that "Intervention into an ongo-
ing family be limited to decisions that
could have long-term and possibly irrepa-
rable effects if they were not resolved.
It isn't only Mrs. Clinton's activities on
children's rights that so arouse conserva-
lives. Recently, the American Spectator, a
conservative magazine. assailed her ties to
the New World Foundation. a New York-
based organization that the magazine says
has supported & number of left-wing
causes. Mrs. Clinton served on the founda-
tion's board from 1982 until 1998. and was
chairman from 1987 to 1988. (Another for-
mer director of the group is Vernon Jor-
dan, the former Urban League president
who is 1 director of Dow Jones & Co.,
publisher of this newspaper.)
Among other things. the magazine al-
leges that the foundation in 1988 gave
$20,000 to the Christic Foundation. an
organization that in lawsuits and public
statements has alleged a wide-ranging
conspiracy at the highest levels of the U.S.
government. The magazine says support
also went to the Center for Constitutional
I 1
Studies. which was co-founded by left-wing
lawyer William Kunstler.
Colin Greer, president of the New
World Foundation, describes as "absurd"
the magazine's attack on the foundation,
which was founded in 1953 by a descendant
of Cyrus McCormick. inventor of the reap-
ing machine. He acknowledges. however,
that the foundation has been active in a
number of what he unabashedly calls
"progressive" causes.
The money the magazine says went to
the Christic Foundation. be says, actually
went to Christic Foundation South, an
offshoot that Mr. Greer says was involved
entirely with efforts to help minorities
benefit from the Voting Rights Act. As for
WALL STREET JOURNAL
I + 1 I . 1 E 1 o
list " VUCUST
the Center for Constitutional Studies, Mr.
Greer says that the money also went to
deal with Voting Rights Act issues, and
that Mr. Kunstler wasn't any longer asso-
clated with the group when the contribu-
tions were made.
Not all the foundation's causes were
political. however. One of the foundation's
goals. insisted on by a McCormick descen.
dant. was supporting "the growth of the
spiritual. as distinguished from the mate-
rial. elements of human life." Board mem-
bers have understood this to refer to
backing efforts to communicate with the
afteriife. Though an aide to Mrs. Clinton
says she doesn't recall any foundation
contributions to any such groups during
her stint. another board member says
there have been a (ew.
In this. the Democratic
In Fairness to the Candidate's Wife
By ALBERT R. HUNT
nothing but hate and venom.)
with the real person. "What I know about
"If the wife comes through as being too
Under scrutiny many of the more sub-
Hillary IS that she is one of the warmest.
strong and too intelligent. it makes the
stantive charges don't hold up very well.
most caring and most loving people that I
husband look like a wimp.
Most are based either on writings that date
have ever known." says Washington law-
Richard Nixon on Hillary Clinton
back to her law school days or on grants
yer and civil rights activist Vernon Jordan
NEW YORK-With Hillary Clinton. this
made by groups in which she served
who has been a friend for almost two
year's presidential contest will feature the
as one of many board members. For
decades. "That has not come across to
most controversial wife at least since
example, she once wrote that under cer-
people."
Eleanor Roosevelt.
tain circumstances children ought to have
In an episode that strikes at the heart of
Critics. mainly from the political right.
greater legal rights
several Hillary myths. Mr. Jordan tells a
paint the 44-year-old wife of the Demo-
to separate from
story about being with the Clintons shortly
cratic presidential nominee as a devout
their parents. But
after Bill Clinton's crushing defeat for
left-winger. whose cold. calculating ruth-
she said this should
governor in 1980. "Early one morning she
lessness would have a Rasputin-like influ-
be only in extreme
was cooking me and Bill grits and I told her
ence on a President Clinton.
cases. Indeed there
she had to start using her husband's name.
This portrait. according to the most
are situations rang-
She understood."
candid assessments from both those who
ing from child
To be sure, Mrs. Clinton has brought on
know her best and knowledgeable cam-
abuse to abandon-
some of her own problems. Her admirable
paign insiders. is nonsense. But it reso-
ment where this
defense of her husband after sleazy
nates with the public. In last week's Wall
hardly seems a rad-
charges of infidelity was offset by her
Street Journal/NBC News poll. Mrs. Clin-
ical view.
tasteless questioning of George Bush's
ton is viewed positively by only 22% of
Within the Clin-
monogamy in a subsequent interview. And
voters and negatively by 30%: she does just
ton
campaign.
angered by some petty charges against her
as poorly among women as among men.
where not everyone
legal ethics. she displayed intellectual
The pounding against Mrs. Clinton has
Hillary Clinton
is charmed by her
arrogance by retorting. "I could have
been ferocious. Human Events. the provoc-
style. knowledgeable insiders nevertheless
stayed home and baked cookies and had
ative weekly paper, has dubbed her the
say she is no radical.
teas."
"Evita Peron of American politics." The
"I have never seen her push any
There's no doubt that Hillary Clinton
cover piece of the current issue of the
kind of ideological agenda." says top politi-
has a sensational mind. There's absolutely
American Spectator is entitled "Boy Clin-
cal strategist James Carville. "My guess is
no doubt that she has used her talents in
ton's Big Mama. It accuses her of every-
she's pretty much a mainstream Demo-
diversity of very constructive ways. For S1.
thing from filing her 1991 tax return
crat who feels very strongly about chil-
years she was chairperson of the Chil
under her maiden name after supposedly
dren's issues." That Mr. Carville. a plain-
dren's Defense Fund. a highly effective
taking her husband's following his guber-
talking Louisiana Cajun who is appeal-
and respected liberal children's rights or
natorial defeat in 1980. to seeking to under-
ingly anti-establishment. has such positive
ganization.
mine the American family by pitting chil-
feelings about Hillary Clinton also under-
She also was a director of Wal-Mart. It'
dren against their parents. (Most of these
cuts the contention that she relates only
hard to imagine the late Sam Walto:
charges concern legitimate issues; by con-
to the cultural elite.
putting some radical. out-of-touch leftie 0
trast. some of the private stuff being
Longtime friends are adamant that her
his board. "She wasn't on the board jus
circulated against Hillary Clinton is full of
personal image is equally inconsistent
because she was the governor's wife.
says John Huey. who just co-authored M:
Walton's autobiography. "He had 1 lot
respect for her. He really listened
her.
She has influenced her husband bo:
during his 12 years as governor an
during this campaign: no doubt this infl
ence would persist if he gets to the Whi
House. But the most successful liberal at
conservative presidents of this century
Franklin D. Roosevelt and Ronald Rt
gan-had smart. assertive wives.
Finally, conservatives who rail again
the influence of a strong spouse ought
look at some of the leading lights of th
own camp who are married to exceptic
ally intelligent. strong-willed women:
ving Kristol. Dick Cheney and the p!
lisher of this newspaper to name just a fe
Does Richard Nixon think any of the
men are wimps?
In what promises to be a very tough
close contest over the next 100 days. vot
will discover some compelling reason:
vote for Bill Clinton and some compe!!
reasons not to vote for him. But his WI!
clearly on the plus side of that ledger.
Mr. Hunt is the Journal's Washin
bureau chief.
HILLARY CLINTON'S SERVICE ON THE
BOARD OF NEW WORLD FOUNDATION
The New World Foundation is a philanthropic organization
"dedicated to revitalizing the institutions of community and public life that have
grown increasingly fragile." The foundation seeks to further an America "in
which poverty, homelessness and chronic unemployment are only rare
experiences," and where "race, gender and class no longer determine the
likelihood of these conditions." Hillary Clinton served on its Board of Directors
from 1983 to 1988, chairing the Board for her last two years of service. The
Bush Campaign's allegation that Hillary Clinton funded the Palestine Liberation
Organization and other armed terrorists is absolutely false.
The New World Foundation awards grants to organizations
working for equal opportunity, education and youth, and international
peace, and on community initiatives.
During the years Hillary Clinton served on its Board, New World
awarded hundreds of grants every year to local community and
advocacy groups: the U.S. Committee for UNICEF; the U.S.
Catholic Conference of New York; the School of Public Health of
Harvard University; the Jewish Fund for Justice; the Children's
Defense Fund; the Greater Hartford Chamber of Commerce; the
Girls' Club of America; the Children's Museum of Fairfield,
Connecticut; the League of Women Voters Education Fund; and the
NAACP Legal Defense and Education Foundation.
As a board member and as the chair, Hillary Clinton supported the
foundation's goals of encouraging citizen participation in democratic
institutions, improving education and promoting government
accountability. In her final report, she wrote, "We have sought to
improve the lives of all Americans by expanding access to and
participation in public systems such as education and voting, and by
advancing the principle that equity and democracy are most securely
achieved through an active and well-informed citizenry."
Hillary Clinton helped secure New World grants for Arkansas
programs including the Arkansas Institute for Social Justice,
Advocates for Children and Families, and the Arkansas Community
Foundation. These organizations work to improve child health and
education, and, in particular, have helped expand the successful
Home Instructional Program for Pre-School Youngsters to 100
communities in Arkansas. Hillary Clinton brought the home
instruction program to Arkansas to help disadvantaged parents
prepare their children for school.
Attacks by the far right distort Hillary Clinton's role as member
and chair of the board and misrepresent the nature of the grants made by
New World.
The Bush Campaign is engaged in a desperate attempt to distort
Hillary Clinton's views and her work in an effort to distract
attention from issues that are important to the American people.
The campaign's proposition that as a board member, Hillary Clinton
gave money to the Palestine Liberation Organization or any other
armed revolutionaries is false. As Stuart Eizenstat, President
Carter's Chief Domestic Policy Advisor, commented, "It is
inconceivable to me that Hillary Clinton, in light of her long and
distinguished record of support for human rights around the world,
would ever knowingly fund any organization allegedly tied to the
terrorist PLO."
The New World Foundation is committed to improving the lives of
blacks in South Africa. It had divested itself of holdings in South
Africa and has focused on funding programs that promote justice in
South Africa.
The New World Foundation has no record of grant making in the
Middle East. Grassroots International is a humanitarian
organization that received funding from New World for its highly
regarded emergency medical assistance program in South Africa.
Grassroots International also provides emergency relief to
Palestinians living on the West Bank, a practice sanctioned even by
the former Likud Government in Israel. It is not now and has never
been a member of the PLO.
2
Other grants made by New World and criticized by the far right --
grants to the Christic Institute, the Center for Constitutional Rights,
and the Capp Street project were made to support minority voting
rights, provide emergency medical relief and encourage community
education and improvement.
The President of the Council on Foundations, James A. Joseph,
wrote in a letter to the Wall Street Journal, "In attacking Mrs.
Clinton for having served on the board of the New World
Foundation, the American Spectator implies that she was personally
responsible for channeling money to radical, left-wing causes. This
kind of reporting conveys misleading information about foundations
and the ways in which they function.
As chair of the New
World Foundation's board in 1987-88, Mrs. Clinton presided over
meetings where a group or directors reached decisions on funding
by consensus. She was hardly the sole arbiter of the foundation's
grantmaking process."
Hillary Clinton should be honored, not assailed for her philanthropic
work with the New World Foundation and with other charitable
organizations.
Hillary Clinton provides a public service through participation on
boards of foundations and non-profit organizations. She has also
served on the boards of the Children's Television Workshop, the
Children's Defense Fund, the "I Have a Dream" Foundation, the
Arkansas Children's Hospital, and numerous other non-profit and
for-profit organizations.
Hillary Clinton's commitment to children, families and human rights
around the world is beyond reproach. So too is her strong support
for Israel's safety and security. The Republican effort to distort
what Hillary Clinton stands for is cynical and unpatriotic.
3
COUNCIL ON FOUNDATIONS
1023 UNTREET NW WASHINGTON DC 20036 5160
(202)436-6512 AAX(202) 785-3926
August 19, 1992
Mr. Robert L. Bartley
Editor
COPY
The Wall Street Journal
200 Liberty Street
New York, NY 10281
Sir:
Your August 13 article, "GOP Targets Hillary Clinton's Views or.
Family reports on an item that appeared previously in the American
Spectator magazine. In attacking Mrs. Clinton for having served on the
board of the New World Foundation, the American Spectator article
implies that she was personally responsible for channeling money to
radioal, left-wing causes. This kind of reporting conveys misleading
information about foundations and the ways in which they function. It
also perpetuates a dangerous and growing tendency to politicize
philanthropy.
As chair of the New World Foundation's board in 1987-88, Mrs. Clinton
presided over meetings where & group or directors reached decisions on
funding by consensus. She was hardly the sole arbiter of the
foundation's grantmaking process. Admittadly the New World Foundation-
-a well-respected member of the philanthropic community--supports many
projects that promote social justice. But programs such as helping
minority communities "benefit from the Voting Rights Act" can be
considered radical only by those who don't want minorities to vote.
Private foundations in this country are mandated by law to serve the
public good. The nature of that good is as various, as diverse, as the
individuals and communities that make up our nation. People who
volunteer, serve on foundation boards or otherwise take the time and
spend the effort to participate in the building of our civil society
should be honored, not castigated as being "liberal" or "conservative."
Such labeling does nothing to advance the well-being that is the goal of
organized philanthropy.
Sincerely,
James A. Joseph
President
RECEIVED FROM
09.28.1992 10:04
N
14:04
8415 391 2698
KATZENBACH, HARRI
004
DAVID B. HARRISON
ATTORNEY AT LAW
MILLS BUILDING - PENTHOUSE ONE
" MONTGOMERY CTREET
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA 94104
(418) 901-8404
CHRISTOPHER WOLCOTT KATZENBACH
FAX (418) 301-2008
or COUNSEL
August 20, 1992
Via Facsimile and U.S. Mail
THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
200 Liberty Street
New York, NY 10281
Attn: Editor
Dear Editor:
While we appreciate the Wall Street Journal's judicious
reporting of the article by The American Spectator concerning
Hillary Clinton and the New World Foundation, it is important for
your readers to understand that this article was both misleading
and dishonest.
The American Spectator article singles out four grants
out of the many hundreds approved during Mrs. Clinton's service on
our board as purported evidence of her leftist leanings. As Mr.
Creer points out, the grants which you mention to the Christic
Institute (not Foundation) and Center for Constitutional Rights
(not Studies) were in furtherance of their voting rights
activities.
The New World Foundation is justifiably proud of its
distinguished board members and its role as a philanthropic
organization. Mrs. Clinton, like Vernon Jordan whom you mentioned,
helped guide us in the pursuit of our goals which were established
by the bequest setting up the foundation.
These goals include health, civil rights, education, the
avoidance of war and, as you note, the pursuit of the spiritual, as
opposed to the material, dimension of human life. It WAR left to
the board of trustees to determine which of these subject areas to
emphasize.
Although the emphasis has varied over the years, I am not
aware of any grant to an organization promoting the spiritual
dimension of human life since the foundation's inception in 1953.
There were certainly none while Mrs. Clinton was on the board.
Sincerely,
David Harrison
Chair, New World Foundation
144
08/21/92
14:03
2415 391 2698
KATZENBACH/HARRI
002
DAVID B. HARRISON
ATTORNEY AT LAW
MILLS BUILDING - PENTHOUSE ONE
220 MONTSOMERY DTREET
SAN FRANCISCO. CALIFORNIA 94104
(6)5) 301 C404
CHRISTOPHER WOLCOTT RATZENBACH
FAX (415) 321-2008
or COUNSEL
August 18, 1992
Via Facsimile and U.S. Mail
NEW YORK POST
210 South Street
New York, NY 10002
Attn: Editor
Dear Editor:
Your article about Hillary Clinton and the New World
Foundation is misleading and dishonest. The grant to Grassroots
International was intended to assist their activities in South
Africa, in furtherance of the foundation's longterm interest in
combating racial injustice.
We have no record of grantmaking in the Middle East,
either then or now. In any event, all of our grants are to tax
exempt organizations which have been found by the IRS to be non-
partisan.
However, like any board member, Mrs. Clinton agreed with
some and disagreed with other grants that the staff recommended;
when she was Board Chair, she did not vote on any grant.
David B. Harrison
Chair, New World Foundation
dbh3\nypost.itr
144
AUG 21 192 05:42PM 202 624 7222
P.2
POWELL. GOLDSTEIN. FRAZER & MURPHY
ATTORNEYS AT LAW
Sixteenth Floor
Sixth Floor
191 Peachtree Street, N E
1001 Pennsylvania Avenue. NW
Allanta, Georgia 30303
PLEASE RESPOND Washington Address
Washington, DC 20004
404 572-6600
202 347-0066
Facsimile 404 572-6999
Facsimile 202 624-7222
Direct Dial No.
(202) 624-7244
August 19, 1992
Editor
New York Post
210 South Street
New York, NY 10002
/
Letter to the Editor:
As a long-time, staunch supporter of Israel and an opponent
of U.S. contacts with the PLO -- including those opened by the
Reagan Administration -- I find contemptible your recent smear of
Hillary Clinton ("Hillary's PLO Connection", Post editorial,
August 12, 1992).
The Post alleges that the "New World Foundation" -- whose
board Ms. Clinton chaired in 1987 and 1988 -- awarded grants to a
group, "Grassroots International" which, in turn, gave the money
to two Palestinian organizations based in the West Bank and
alleged by the Post to be PLO "members". The clear implication
is that Ms. Clinton somehow supports the PLO because of her
tenuous, third-degree tie to these grants. This charge is as
offensive as it is wrong.
The Post provides no proof that Ms. Clinton knew this money
would end up in the West Bank. To the contrary, the funds
apparently were given to Grassroots International for its
overseas humanitarian work, with the clear expectation that it
would be spent in South Africa. Tim Wise, Executive Director of
Grassroots, confirmed this fact in his angry response to the same
baseless allegations when they were printed elsewhere. He writes
that the author of this other piece, "[M]isrepresented. what
the New World Foundation supported with their grant to
Grassroots, and what Hillary Clinton supported or knew about as
chair of the New World board at that time."
AUG 21 '92 05:42PM 202 624 7222
P.3 1-
POWELL. GOLDSTEIN. FRAZER & MURPHY
August 19, 1992
Page 2
Moreover, the Post provides not a shred of evidence to
bolster its contention that Ms. Clinton had any knowledge of a
purported PLO connection. Indeed, Mr. Wise calls the allegations
about her supposed support for PLO organizations, "[B]oth
misleading and factually incorrect,' while also denying that he
ever called the two groups in question "members" of the PLO.
Frankly, it is inconceivable to me that Hillary Clinton, in light
of her long and distinguished record of support for human rights
around the world, would ever knowingly fund any organization
allegedly tied to the terrorist PLO.
The sleazy innuendo practiced by the Post represents a
reckless disregard for the truth all too common in recent
journalism. But why would the Post want to defame Ms. Clinton in
this fashion? or write disapprovingly that Bill and Hillary
Clinton "are engaged in a joint political enterprise?" In light
of the Post's consistent support for Israel, this fact should be
cause for celebration rather than reason for concern.
After all, the Post certainly knows that the election turns
on the views of President Bush and Governor Clinton, not those of
their spouses. On that score, Bill Clinton has a proven record
of fervent friendship for the Jewish state; inspired the most
pro-Israel platform plank in Democratic Party history; and
selected Al Gore as his running mate, whose Israel-related record
-- as the Post well knows -- is impeccable. Conversely, George
Bush has done more damage to the fabric of the U.S.-Israel
relationship in the past four years than any modern President.
Given this contrast, there is no contest for friends of Israel.
Finally, even if one considers Hillary Clinton's Mideast
views, they should give all supporters of Israel, Jewish or
otherwise, total trust in the Democratic ticket. Not only has
she spoken out frequently, forcefully and eloquently for Israel's
safety and security, but she has been cited for her successful
efforts to bring to Arkansas a preschool educational program
first developed at Hebrew University in Jerusalem, which has
become a nationally-known pilot education project in this field.
AUG 21 192 05:43PM 202 624 7232
P.4.7
POWELL. GOLDSTEIN. FRAZER & MURPHY
August 19, 1992
Page 3
The British newsmagazine, The Economist, wrote on July 25
that, "Henry 'Scoop' Jackson, the late Democratic Senator from
Washington state who hated communism and loved Israel would be
perfectly at home in Mr. Clinton's Democratic Party." That is
the fundamental fact upon which to focus in 1992, and not some
erroneous, irrelevant and outrageous slander on Hillary Clinton.
By Line: Washington attorney, Lecturer at the Kennedy School of
Government at Harvard University, and Chief Domestic Policy
Adviser- to President Jimmy Carter, 1977-1981.
Very truly yours,
Stuart E. Eizenstat
SEE/pe
AUG 22 '92 11:52 UNION INST/OSR DC 202-265-0492
P.2/2
The Union Institute
Office for Social Responsibility
Center for Public Policy
Center for Women
August 22, 1992
Editor
The Chronicle of Philanthropy
1225 23rd Street, N.W. (Suite 775)
Washington, D.C. 20037
Dear Editor:
I have long advocated increased accountability in the nonprofit sector.
However, recent events demonstrate how easily the self-serving and self-
righteous can corrupt even honorable concepts. Conservative news media and
Republican party functionaries have launched vicious attacks on Hillary
Clinton because of some of the organizations funded by the New World Founda-
tion during hor tenure on its board. The absurdity of these assaults makes
ignoble notions of nonprofit accountability, grossly distorts the meaning of
trusteeship, and attaches an illegitimate cost. to voluntarism.
Nonprofit board members are stewards of the public interest. Their role is
to assure that a charitable organization operates faithfully and prudently
in service to its mission. They ought not be held personally accountable
for averything that an organization does. To levy such a task would require
board members to involve themselves in every aspect of an organization's on-
eration; clearly this is inappropriate and would be ruinous to the adminis-
tration and program of nonprofits.
Beyond conservatives' gross distortions of board stewardship is an even more
onerous attack on philanthropy itself. Ms. Clinton's abusive critics con-
tend that a grant-making foundation must approve of everything a grantee
does, has done or will do, if it is to fund that organization. She is being
pilloried for New World Foundation grants to legitimate groups that are po-
litically unacceptable to the right wing. Never mind that the activities
found objectionable were not those being funded, and never mind that Ms.
Clinton did not even vote to fund other activities that might even be found
unobjectionable by the right, she still is declared guilty of an offense.
The Republican functionary/conservative witch hunt has taken Ms. Clinton's
public interest work and tried to turn it to their private profit. All of
philanthropy and the nonprofit sector should be clear in its scorn for po-
liticising charitable endeavor.
Sincerely,
Mark Rosenman
Vice President, Social Responsibility
1731 Connecticut Avenue, N.W.- Suite 300
Washington, D.C. 20009-1146
202/667-1313 Fax 202/265-0492
05/03/89 00:30
415 841 2515
BARBARA GARDNER
PAGE 03
671 P02
AUG
07
'92
14:08
GRASSROOTS
INTERNATIONAL
a people-to-people partnership
for social change
Board of Directors
August 7, 1992
June Makela
Richard Starr
Chairgerson
Ancrea Ayvazian
Insight Magazine
Joseph Chins
3600 New York Ave. N.E.
Dan Connect
Marie Kennedy
Washington, DC 20002
Susan Lowes
Kattry McMos
Fernange Menendez
Dear Mr. Starr,
Cara. Ec Rooman
Lynora Williams
Evan Gahr has, 1 understand, informed you of my complaints
Kamerine Y A
regarding his misquoting me in his piece on Hillary Clinton and the New
THE Wise
Exerutive Director
World Foundation. I feel he both misquoted me and misrepresented what
Grassroots International is and does, what the New World Foundation
supported with their grant to Grassroots, and what Hillary Clinton
and of Advisors
supported or knew about as chair of the New World board at that time.
Naseer Arture
Walden 86110
Most important, though, in misquoting me Mr. Gahr obscured a
Dennis Bruius
very important distinction. The PLO is a political organization. The
Kassahun Checcle
John Cunnington
organizations we support in the West Bank and Gaza are humanitarian
Carmen Diana Deare
and service organizations. I did not say they were "members" of the PLO;
Karen Gelien
they are not. WE support them because they provide badly needed
Susan George
at Rev Barbara Harric
services to Palestinians in the occupied territories and they do solextremely
Laura Henze
effectively.
Nubar Horsepian
Assat Ktoury
Mai King
11 is very important that this matter be corrected on the record..
Mennys Kirnock
Frances Moore Lappe
Because you refuse to print a corr cr is that effect, 1 enclose a letter to
Joey LeDesma
the editor clarifying the issue. Please send me a copy when it is printed.
Ramsay Liem
Payl MaDly
And please try to ensure that your reporters do a more thorough job, at
Mackie McLeod
least getting the facts and quotes right, even when they misuse them.
Molly Mead
Jim Megson
Grace Paley
Polity Parks
Gail Pressberg
Nadim Rouhana
Sincerely,
Bereke: Hable Selassie
Holly Skiar
Chris Tilly
Ed de la Torre
Tim Wise
Executive Director
48 Grove Street #103. Somerville, MA 02144 USA
Tel: (617) 628-1664 Fax: (617) 628-4737 E-Mail via PeaceNet<grassroots> Telex 311517 CAM
HILLARY CLINTON'S WORK TO IMPROVE THE FUTURE
FOR AMERICA'S YOUTH
Generating Support for Education and Worker Training Initiatives
Hillary Clinton has worked to create opportunity and provide a
promising future for America's youth. She believes that Americans must
improve education and training if we are going to offer our children the
opportunity to lead productive and prosperous lives. Hillary Clinton joined the
William T. Grant Foundation Commission on Work, Family and Citizenship and
the Board of the National Center on Education and the Economy to assist these
organizations in their efforts to provide greater educational and economic
opportunities to America's youth.
In 1988, The William T. Grant Foundation issued a report, "The
Forgotten Half: Pathways to Success for America's Youth and Young
Families." The National Center on Education and the Economy also issued
a report: "America's Choice: high skills or low wages!" The two reports
identify problems facing America's non-college bound youth and recommend
realistic solutions to improve education and training, and to put our
economy on the road toward growth.
Our youth need better family relationships and greater
involvement with the community: The best thing we can do to
help American families is to address problems with our economy
and in the workplace. Public and private support should be aimed
at easing the financial burden of raising children, and businesses
should be encouraged to be more responsive to the needs of working
parents. In addition, teenagers and young adults should be given
the opportunity to serve their community and to benefit from its
support and services.
Half of America's youth are not college-bound and need new
opportunities: More than half of America's youth -- 20 million 16-
to 24-year olds -- are unlikely to attend college. These youth should
not be left to flounder. We have to find ways to encourage the non-
college bound to study hard and to reward their efforts with better
paying jobs. Currently, these youth do not benefit from the special
privileges that society confers on the college educated. To the
contrary, they experience extraordinarily high rates of
unemployment and are often restricted to low-paying jobs.
Students need motivation to succeed: Today's students see
little relationship between their studies -- and how well they do in
school -- and the job they will have when they finish their studies.
We must revamp our educational system so that it sets high
standards and measures achievement in a way that has meaning for
students preparing to enter the workforce.
We must provide new avenues for education and training for
Americans who do not go on to college: The majority of our
workforce is not college educated. Without training, the workforce
will be low skilled and low paid. New training programs must be
developed if the U.S. is to compete in high-technology and high-
wage industries.
Hard work must lead to economic success: Over the last 20
years, average weekly earnings for most American workers have
fallen. Now, both parents often have to work just to make ends
meet. Worker productivity has also declined. The U.S. must invest
resources to create a highly skilled workforce if we are to restore
the American dream and reach our highest potential level of
productivity.
Employers need incentives to invest in their employees and to
increase worker productivity: Employers should be encouraged
to train and educate employees, and to improve the productivity of
the workforce.
Federal and state legislation is needed to implement
proposals: "The Forgotten Half" proposed a program entitled the
Youth Opportunities Demonstration Act to further an integrated
approach to the education, training and service needs of all youth.
"America's Choice" recommendations have also been incorporated
into federal legislation and many have been implemented by states.
2
Hillary Clinton has worked to ensure that the "forgotten half"
will be forgotten no more. She has been instrumental in implementing the
findings of the two reports and improving opportunities for America's
youth.
The New Republic recognized Hillary Clinton's work to
improve education and training: As Morton Kondracke stated,
"Thanks to Bill Clinton -- and, at least equally, to Hillary Clinton
-- the U.S. political system is almost certain to do something
constructive for a truly 'forgotten' group: the 60-odd percent of
high school graduates who either don't go to college or don't finish.
These are people whose life prospects are being eroded by the
failures of American schools, by increased foreign competition, and
by the information age economy's demand for skills." July 27,
1992.
Hillary Clinton led efforts to implement report findings:
Hillary Clinton chaired an "America's Choice" task force on
implementation of report recommendations at the federal, state and
local levels --traveling around the country discussing ways to
improve education and training. At her suggestion, the Arkansas
Department of Education started an apprenticeship program to train
students as health, computer, radio or machine technicians.
3
sers. One of Clinton's politicos wanted him to
American productivity and competitiveness-far supe-
study Garrv Wills's new book on Lincoln to try to
rior, Reich savs, to giving big tax breaks to individuals or
learn how to become more succinct. Clinton studied it
corporations, which can spend the proceeds as easily
and even spoke with Wills. But his inclination is to
overseas as in the United States. Reich, Magaziner. and
explain as much as he can. Being succinct strains his
Hillary Clinton knew each other as college student body
powers, as his nominating speech for Dukakis in 1988
presidents in 1968 and 1969 (at. respectively, Dart-
made painfully obvious. Clinton sees the interconnec-
mouth. Brown, and Wellesley). Bill Clinton. Reich, and
tions among the issues and wants to tell you all about
Magaziner were students at Oxford together. The four
them. His flaw is more than the desire to please: it also
comprise a COZV little group and have been talking to
flows from his cast of mind. In the end, reducing his
each other about economics, industrial policy. politics,
content to easy themes might have made it harder for
and education for twenty-four years.
him to make his case; for what he needed-and
Clinton's high-profile espousal of worker training has
wanted-to defend was substantive politics. He had to
forced the Bush White House to promote kindred
present his character whole-pol as wonk, wonk as pol.
"empowerment" ideas. Labor Department officials have
all of a piece.
been drawing up programs to help the non-college
Clinton's fall forced him to defeat narrow concep-
bound for four years, but weren't able to get through to
tions of the Democratic Party and to forge a new coali-
Bush or his domestic advisors until the campaign
tion and political identity for himself. The figure who
loomed. Bush proposed a training agenda in January,
takes governing seriously is what the country wants but
including apprenticeships and reform of high school
has had trouble seeing in Clinton. Now his nomination
vocational and post-secondary career education, but he
testifies to his perseverance. highlighting a morality tale
did not send legislation to Congress until April. Nothing
that tells itself. And as the Democrats gather in Madison
is likely to pass this year because training is caught up in
Square Garden, the very early Clinton, who was there
election-vear political wars, but the chances are it will
all along. is reemerging.
pass next year, regardless of who is elected president.
The problem both candidates are addressing is this:
the average income of young people who don't attend
Clinton's best idea.
college is going down. According to one 1990 study,
inflation-adjusted earnings for workers under 25 with
only a high school diploma are 28 percent lower than
they were fifteen years ago. A 1992 Department of
Labor report said that the percentage of white high
APPRENTICES' SORCERER
school graduate males 25 and older who do not make
enough money to keep a family of four out of poverty
has risen from 8.3 to 22.2 since 1969. The proportion
for blacks has gone from 20 percent to 41 percent, and
for Hispanics, from 16 percent to 36 percent. Ten years
By Morton Kondracke
ago high school graduates with no college made 74 per-
cent of the wage of a college graduate; in 1991 they
hanks to Bill Clinton-and, at least equally, to
made 65 percent.
T
Hillary Clinton-the U.S. political system is
Hillary Clinton has been addressing this trend for
almost certain to do something constructive for
more than five years, and Reich for even longer. In 1987,
a truly "forgotten" group: the 60-odd percent of
as a board member of the W.T. Grant Foundation, she
high school graduates who either don't go to college or
helped produce a landmark report, "The Forgotten
don't finish. These are people whose life prospects are
Half: Non-College Youth in America," that focused not
being eroded by the failures of American schools, by
only on the 15 percent of young people who drop out of
increased foreign competition, and by the information-
school before graduating and never return. but also on
age economy's demand for skills.
the 41 percent whose education stops with high school
Under the influence of his wife and two old friends
and the 20 percent who start but don't finish college.
and economic advisers. Ira Magaziner and Robert B.
(Twenty-four percent of all young people now finish col-
Reich, Clinton has made upgrading worker skills a cen-
lege, up from 11 percent in 1960.) Hillary was also on a
tral part of his agenda both as governor of Arkansas and
commission on skills chaired by Magaziner, which in
as a presidential candidate. The campaign has
June 1990 produced an even more influential report,
advanced such ideas as youth apprenticeships, "lifetime
"America's Choice: High Skills or Low Wages!" It recom-
learning," and a European-style tax on corporations for
mended creating a nationwide system of technical and
worker training. The press and rival candidates have
professional certificates for workers and incentives for
focused mostly on his proposals for middle-class tax cuts
employers to train workers and reorganize workplaces to
and tax increases for the rich, but his training initiatives
use highly trained labor rather than new machines.
are likely to do more to advance future prosperity.
The commission traveled to six countries where cor-
Reich and Magaziner contend that upgrading the
porations participate in "play or pay" training schemes
skills of workers is the most efficient way to improve
under which they either train their own workers or con-
14 THE NEW REPUBLIC JULY 27, 1992
tribute to a government pool to do so. In Germany cor-
porations are required to spend 2.3 percent of payroll
Jim Pinkerton and Bill Clinton.
for training; in Sweden and Ireland, 2.5; France, 1.5; and
Japan, 1 percent. In the United States employers spend
an average of 1 percent on training, but 70 percent of
that goes for seminars for executives and marketing
employees (often at cushv retreats) rather than produc-
tion workers. Clinton is recommending a 1.5 percent
PARADIGM'S LOSS
requirement, which may cost corporations as much as
$30 billion a year.
When the "America's Choice" report was completed.
Hillary Clinton became chairman of a task force on
By Mickey Kaus
implementation of its recommendations. In the fall of
1990. she also got the Arkansas Department of Education
11 1988, as director of "opposition research" for the
started on apprenticeship planning, and Bill Clinton
pushed the resulting legislation into law in 1991. The
I
Bush-Quayle campaign, James Pinkerton discov-
ered a furloughed killer named Willie Horton in
state is currently setting up six initial programs to begin
the past of Democratic presidential candidate
this fall. After two years of combined school and train-
Michael Dukakis. The rest is history. In late 1991. as a
ing and two more years of training and work, students are
policy planner in the Bush White House, James Pinker-
supposed to be capable, certified, (and employed)
ton ventured an opinion about Democratic presidential
health, computer, radio, or machine technicians.
candidate Bill Clinton. "I noted with interest Bill Clin-
ton's 'New Covenant' speech," Pinkerton told a Wash-
The Bush administration actually beat Arkansas into
ington symposium. "It seems to me that a Republican
the field with six apprenticeship demonstration pro-
could take that speech. change about ten words, and
grams in 1990, created by the Department of Labor's
have a pretty good message for the GOP primaries, not 11)
Office of Work Based Learning. Training was nowhere
mention the general election."
on Bush's own agenda, though, until Lynn Martin
At the time, Pinkerton had good reason to like Clin-
became secretary of labor in 1991. She claims that Bush
ton. For more than a year he had been having regular
has become an enthusiast on the subject-and, indeed,
dinners with several Clinton advisers as part of the "New
in some respects his program is bolder than Clinton's.
Paradigm Society." a group founded by Pinkerton and
Bush opposes employer mandates and tax credits.
Democrat Elaine Kamarck to explore the possibility of a
Instead, his "Jobs 2000" legislation places sixty federally
left-right consensus on domestic policy. The New
funded training programs, including high school voca-
Paradigm envisions a form of government activism that
tional education programs and for-profit "proprietary"
would (in Pinkerton's words) "expand individual choice.
schools, under supervision of local private industry
empower the poor, and create decentralized, flexible.
councils to ensure that programs meet their standards
and adaptable institutions" to replace old-stvle "central-
and needs. There's a hitch, however: for-profit trade
ized bureaucracy." Letting parents choose from among
schools are represented by a powerful lobby in Washing-
competing schools and letting public housing tenants
ton, the Career College Association, which has success-
buy their apartments are the paradigmatic New
fully resisted efforts to link eligibility for receipt of fed-
Paradigm schemes.
eral student aid checks with placing students in jobs.
Pinkerton wasn't the first to talk about a New
Bush should be commended for tackling the propri-
Paradigm. Journalist David Osborne coined the term.
etary schools, but he's dreaming if he thinks the $55 mil-
But the NP is the concept that turned Pinkerton from a
lion he has proposed spending-just over $1 million a
gawky political hack into someone Mademoiselle actually
state-will spur apprenticeships. The administration plan
put on its list of "the greatest lovers of the Western
basically calls for better delivery of job training services
world." I remember going to a Christmas party in 1989
that the government currently provides, at a cost of $18
and finding myself in a corner, talking policy with this
billion. Clinton's apprenticeship scheme, which accord-
giraffe-like man who seemed to wear his trousers up
ing to his recent economic plan would cost $1.5 billion in
around his navel. He was funny and open-minded-at
new funds, is bolder as well as more honest about cost.
the time he was pushing an idealistic plan to give under-
In any case, the "forgotten half" is no longer as forgot-
class kids jobs planting trees. Soon I was attending his
ten as it was. Members of Congress have introduced
"paradigm" meetings. The next November budget direc-
eight other apprenticeship or worker-training packages.
tor Richard Darman sneered at the NP idea in a speech.
Proposals to address the issue will be part of both Repub-
and Pinkerton sneered back. a brilliant career move. A
lican and Democratic platforms, and Ross Perot presum-
Washington Post "Style" profile quickly followed. In 1990.
ably will be along with his own ideas. Between Clinton
when I attended the same Christmas party, there was a
and Bush, however, Clinton is more likely to make non-
distinct buzz in the room. "Jim Pinkerton's here!" "Did
college Americans a priority. After all, it wasn't until he
you see Jim Pinkerton?" "I think Pinkerton's already
started hollering about it that Bush admitted there was a
left." "No he hasn't." People were elbowing Jody Powell
problem.
out of the way to get to him (just as a decade earlier they
16 THE NEW REPUBLIC JULY 27, 1992
HILLARY CLINTON'S WORK WITH THE
LEGAL SERVICES CORPORATION
Hillary Clinton believes that individuals who are indigent and face
serious legal difficulties -- including eviction, loss of public benefits, or divorce
-- should have legal representation. The Legal Services Corporation provides
civil legal assistance to more than 1.4 million disadvantaged Americans and
offers the best hope that America has to fulfill its promise of equal justice for
all. Hillary Clinton served on the Board of the Legal Services Corporation from
1977 until 1981, chairing the Board from 1978 to 1980. She continues to
support public and private efforts to fund legal services programs.
The legal services program is an established American tradition
and has broad support across the political spectrum. Nonetheless, the far
right has worked to abolish the program since its inception. Congress,
however, has insisted on its preservation.
Thousands of individuals and organizations around the country -- in
the religious community, business, and the legal professions as well
as civil rights leaders and local government officials -- have all
worked in support of legal services programs. As Associate Justice
of the Supreme Court Lewis Powell Jr. said in 1964: "Equal justice
under the law is not merely a caption on the facade of the Supreme
Court building. It is perhaps the most inspiring ideal of our society.
It is one of the ends for which our entire legal system exists
it is fundamental that justice should be the same, in substance and
availability, without regard to economic status."
Originally, the legal services program was under President
Johnson's Office of Equal Opportunity. However, Congress worked
with President Nixon to reestablish the program as an independent
corporation in 1974 to insulate the program from political influence,
abuse or criticism. As President Nixon stated, "Legal assistance for
the poor is one of the most constructive ways to help them help
themselves
justice is served far better and differences settled
more rationally within the system than on the streets." He further
noted that it was time "to make legal services an integral part of our
judicial system."
Over the years, Senator Warren Rudman and Representative
Caldwell Butler, both Republicans, have been among the strongest
supporters of a strong and independent Legal Services program.
Other supporters include Senator John Warner and former Attorney
General Elliot Richardson. Also, an early 1980's New York times-
CBS poll found that 83% of Americans opposed cuts in legal
services spending.
Right-wing ideologues have been at war with legal services and
have tried unsuccessfully to abolish it for over a decade. President
Reagan proposed its elimination. Republicans and Democrats in
Congress insisted on keeping the program.
Today, the far right is attacking Hillary Clinton as part of their
campaign to end the legal services program and to distract voters from the
Republicans' failed record on the economy. The far right has recycled
every discredited charge used against legal services since its inception in
1974.
As a member and chair of the Board of Directors, Hillary Clinton
fulfilled her responsibilities under the law. During her service, the Legal
Services Corporation brought high quality legal assistance to communities
around the country. Offices had to be opened, regulations adopted, and
monitoring systems put in place as the program was implemented nationwide.
The Board of Legal Services does not represent clients, provides no
legal services and makes no decisions about what programs should
be funded or what cases are brought by local programs. The
President, not the board, makes all grants and contracts. It meets
only four or five times a year. The Board is responsible for the
budget, setting up the overall program structure and setting the
direction of the program. Local offices provide services to the
disadvantaged within the parameters of the law and regulations.
The Republicans have levelled completely unfounded accusations
that, as a member of the board, Hillary Clinton was responsible for
authorizing the use of taxpayer dollars to fund a mayoral campaign
2
and to oppose proposition 9 in California, or for improperly
lobbying against President Reagan's cut-backs in legal services
funding. To the extent that there have been any improprieties by
grantees, there was an established procedure independent of the
board to determine appropriate action.
The only actions that were inconsistent with the intent of the Legal
Services Corporation Act were those taken by President Reagan and
his appointees to the Board of Directors. These appointees sought
to undercut the effectiveness of legal services and made no secret of
their contempt for the program.
Writing in the St. Louis Post Dispatch, a former chair of the Legal
Services Corporation said that the author of a right-wing attack on
Hillary Clinton "may be entitled to speculate on the role of Hillary
Clinton as the spouse of a president. He is not entitled to
misrepresent her service on the board of the Legal Services
Corporation. I can attest that in the 32 months I served with her,
she was a hard-working, even handed, intelligent, devoted and
effective director of a corporation charged with disbursing upward
of $300 million a year."
3
HILLARIOUS ANOTHER BASELESS REPUBLICAN ATTACK
ON HILLARY CLINTON
Hillarious, a new book by George Grant, is not "the Wacky Wit, Wisdom &
Wonderment" of Hillary Clinton. It is the latest volley in the Republican's far-right
campaign to personally attack the Democratic Presidential nominee and his wife, and
to divide the American people. This book, which endeavors to prove that Hillary
Clinton is outside of the mainstream, confirms only that its author and his Republican
party backers are right-wing zealots in the tradition of Pat Robertson and Patrick
Buchanan.
There is nothing funny about Hillarious or about George Grant's scorn for
American people. His verbal assaults are offensive.
It is ridiculous to characterize Democrats as "homosexual health-care
extortionists." (p.11)
It is repugnant to suggest that those who support freedom of choice are "child-
killing enthusiasts." (p.11)
It is anti-environmental to mock Americans who celebrate Earth Day. (p.12)
It is racist to ridicule Whoopie Goldberg for wearing "what I took to be some
sort of African tribal costume designed to complement her dreadfully matted
dreadlock hairdo," and to suggest that others at a pro-choice march "looked
like they had just emerged from a jungle, too -- or at the very least from a
zoo." (p.12)
It is intolerant to suggest that men and women who support choice or who are
Democrats are "bolshie-blustering comrades-in-arms". (p.14)
George Grant has taken Hillary Clinton's words completely out of context in
an effort to wrongly portray her as out of the mainstream.
The Republicans should be publicly disclaim this publication. But
they have not. Rather, they allowed the book to be distributed at the Republican
Convention and its author reports that Republican chiefs have inquired about
bulk purchases so that they can distribute the book at campaign rallies. This
book tells us nothing about Bill or Hillary Clinton, but it says a lot about
President Bush and what he will do to try to get reelected.