Political Quotes

“I want to recommend to the President and his senior staff that they read today's column by Al Hunt in the Wall Street Journal entitled ``Whitewater: It's the Coverup More Than the Deal.'' There was a point where President Nixon could have, I think, saved his Presidency by decisively bringing in outside counsel, listening to them, and doing whatever it took to obey the law and to enforce public trust even at the expense of personal friendship. There was a point where President Reagan felt compelled to create the Tower Commission to look into a series of allegations and to try to find out what had happened in the White House. I am afraid, with yesterday's revelations and today's revelations involving the Justice Department, the RTC, and a whole range of clearly unethical and inappropriate behaviors by senior appointees, that the Clinton Presidency is very close to a problem that, in fact, could ultimately unravel its entire ability to function. I would hope the President would take seriously the recommendation to relieve the current counsel, Mr. Nussbaum, to bring in a total outsider of impeccable credentials, respected by everyone, to insist that that person go through the entire administration, insisting on ethical, accountable behavior, and establishing firm principles that fit the law and that fit the procedures the country should expect of the executive branch.”