TIME: Almanac 1995

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<text id=93TT2113> <title> Aug. 23, 1993: The Week:August 8-14, 1993 </title> <history> TIME--The Weekly Newsmagazine--1993 Aug. 23, 1993 America The Violent </history> <article> <source>Time Magazine</source> <hdr> THE WEEK, Page 13 News Digest: August 8-14 </hdr> <body> NATION Papal Visit Pope John Paul II, here to lead the Roman Catholic Church's World Youth Day celebration, did not leave the tarmac at Denver's airport before stating his differences with the man who met the plane. Bill Clinton, who supports abortion rights, stood impassively behind the Pontiff as he exhorted a small crowd, "If you want equal justice for all...then, America, defend life!" Clinton took it gamely, pronouncing the speech "great," and the two retreated for a private talk, which aides said centered on Bosnia. More Cops, Fewer Guns Clinton backed a crime-fighting bill that would mandate a five-day waiting period for gun purchasers, provide $3.4 billion to put 50,000 more police on the street nationwide--an 8% increase--and limit the number of appeals that may be filed by death-row inmates. Clinton also announced Executive Orders suspending the import of assault-style handguns and tightening licensing requirements for gun dealers. Babbitt's Redemption Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt announced that the Administration would raise the fees for ranchers who graze livestock on federal land. Last February Clinton undercut Babbitt by trading away a similar increase to gain the support of several Western Senators for his budget. The fees will now rise from $1.86 to $4.28 per head of cattle, still below the $5 to $15 charged on private land. Fee hikes may also loom on other federal lands. Ron Brown Investigated The FBI is investigating allegations that Commerce Secretary Ron Brown agreed to accept $700,000 to press for the end of the U.S. trade embargo against Vietnam. As first reported in U.S. News & World Report and confirmed to Time by law-enforcement sources, a Florida businessman named Ly Thanh Binh claims a former associate of his boasted of enlisting Brown's aid shortly after he was nominated as Secretary. The FBI took the claims seriously enough to conduct a field investigation, but many of the case's facts remain unresolved, and no evidence has been presented to a grand jury. Brown categorically and unequivocally denied that he had had any dealings with Vietnam's citizens or its government. Foster's Cry of Pain The Justice Department released the contents of a note that White House aide Vincent Foster wrote before committing suicide last month. In it, Clinton's lifelong friend made accusations against the Republican Party, the White House ushers' office, the FBI, the press in general and the Wall Street Journal in particular. Some of the allegations are now under investigation. Foster's most damning claim was against Washington itself. "Here ruining people is considered sport," he wrote. "Shali's" Promotion Clinton nominated four-star Army General John Shalikashvili, a native of Poland who arrived in America at age 16, to succeed Colin Powell as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. In his current post as a NATO commander, Shalikashvili has been critical of U.S. inaction in Bosnia. With Friends Like These... The National Security Agency reluctantly made public an immense and successful effort by the U.S. to spy on its World War II allies. The documents, known as the "Magic intercepts," are decodings of the secret messages of 33 other nations, including France, Denmark, Mexico and the Netherlands. Britain and the Soviet Union were not represented. Pretty Woman Appearing at her arraignment on pandering and drug charges in Los Angeles, Heidi Fleiss, the alleged madam to the stars, spoke only one word--she answered yes when asked if she realized that she had waived a hearing of the counts against her. She is pleading not guilty to all charges. The case will resume with preliminary hearings on Sept. 10; Fleiss's black book remains in the custody of the D.A. WORLD Americans Die in Mogadishu As Somali warlord General Mohammed Farrah Aidid escalated his assaults against U.N. peacekeepers early last week, four U.S. soldiers were killed when their humvee all-purpose vehicle was blown up by a remote-control bomb. An outraged President Clinton vowed to take "appropriate action" that might include sending in "special forces and other creative military operations" to hunt down Aidid. But Senate Republican leader Bob Dole urged the Administration to review and possibly scale back its military presence in Somalia. Pullback over Sarajevo After stern warnings from the U.S. and nato to end the "strangulation" of Sarajevo, Bosnian Serb leaders announced a pullback from two mountain peaks over-looking the city. By Saturday, the withdrawal was almost complete and peacekeepers were patrolling the area. Bosnian President Alija Izetbegovic said he would rejoin negotiations in Geneva this week--if the Serbs stick to their agreement. Old Sake in New Bottles? Japan's new Prime Minister, Morihiro Hosokawa, is practicing both new- and old-style politics. His newly formed Cabinet reflects the continuing power of the recently ousted Liberal Democratic Party in that its most important ministers are former members of the L.D.P. But Hosokawa has also told the press he will step down if he cannot pass reform legislation. In a rare admission for a Japanese official, Hosokawa acknowledged his country's guilt in World War II: "I myself think it was a war of aggression," he said, "a war that was wrong." More Feints in Nigeria In another in a series of moves to delay relinquishing power, General Ibrahim Babangida, Nigeria's longtime dictator, has said he will form an "interim" government of soldiers and civilians instead of restoring a civilian government on Aug. 27 as he promised. In a strong, silent demand that the general recognize the results of the June election, which was apparently won by his former friend Moshood Abiola, virtually the entire capital of Lagos shut down for a three-day strike. Abiola was in Washington hoping to persuade the U.S. to pressure Babangida to step down. BUSINESS Interest Rates Keep Falling With the economy still sluggish, the interest rate for 30-year Treasury bonds reached a historic low of 6.46%. B.C.C.I. Bust After five months of testimony, a New York jury acquitted attorney Robert Altman on the four remaining counts of engaging in a conspiracy to defraud bank regulators and the public in the case of the Bank of Credit & Commerce International's secret takeover of First American Bankshares Inc. of Washington. Said Altman: "This is a prosecution that never should have been brought." Fares Were Fair Taking less than four hours to reach a decision, a Texas jury cleared American Airlines of charges of "predatory pricing" in last summer's airfare wars. The victory cleared the way for more of what American's CEO Robert Crandall called "continued vigorous price competition." Meanwhile TWA received court permission to emerge from bankruptcy and immediately announced a celebratory two-for-one ticket sale. MEDIA & THE ARTS Rockin' Docent Cleveland's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame chose as its new director a man unassociated with rock but familiar with the public spotlight: Dennis Barrie. His previous job was director of the Contemporary Arts Center in Cincinnati, and while there he was charged with obscenity for a controversial show of Robert Mapplethorpe photographs (Barrie was cleared). "I have a high-culture background," said Barrie, but pop culture "is one of the most potent forces in the world." Now, the Jessica TV Movie ABC will start filming its version of the Baby Jessica story this week in cooperation with her custodial parents, Jan and Roberta DeBoer, but without consulting her biological mother and father, Dan and Cara Schmidt. The Schmidts, who won custody, have thus far turned down all offers for their story. They say, however, that they may make a public response to the ABC broadcast. -- By Christopher John Farley, Alexandra Lange, Erik Meers, Michael Quinn, Sidney Urquhart, David Van Biema The Morning Line To win the votes of Democrats in Congress who were wavering in their support of his budget plan, President Clinton at the last minute promised them that he would make additional spending cuts in the fall. What are the odds that any major cuts will be made? PLAYER Sen. Al D'Amato Republican, N.Y. ODDS 100 to 1 COMMENTS "Bill Clinton hasn't kept one promise yet. I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for him to deliver any promised spending cuts." PLAYER Hobart Rowen Washington Post ODDS 30 to 1 COMMENTS "If there were any new substantial cuts to be made, they would have been made in the budget just passed." PLAYER Robert Novak Host, Evans & Novak ODDS 12 1/2 to 1 COMMENTS "Take away the word major. They will be cosmetic and superficial." PLAYER Rep. Tim Penny Democrat, Minn. ODDS even COMMENTS "We were guaranteed a vote on such measures. There's no guarantee how that vote will go." Winners & Losers WINNERS RICHARD NIXON On 19th anniversary of resignation, judge bars release of new tapes GEN. JOHN SHALIKASHVILI Polish-Georgian immigrant is surprise Joint Chiefs Chairman TOMMY LEE JONES Weathered film vet steals The Fugitive in role of his career LOSERS MARKY MARK Calvin Klein said to be looking for new underpants pitchman GEN. CARL MUNDY Aspin quashes his plan to make the Marines a singles club BERNARD NUSSBAUM Dubious follow-up on Foster death is Clinton counsel's latest mess Informed Sources Military Brainstorm: Interservice Communication Washington--If U.S. forces go into action in Bosnia, they will for the first time carry a sophisticated communications system that allows the Air Force, Navy and Army to talk to one another electronically. During Desert Storm, Air Force pilots couldn't talk by radio, fax or computer to Navy pilots, and neither group could communicate directly with Army ground troops. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Colin Powell has been showing off the device to top brass who visit his office. As a general says, "This is far more important than a new tank or an airplane." Heidi's Other Alleged Enterprises Los Angeles--For the past two weeks, Hollywood has been engulfed in speculation about HEIDI FLEISS, the alleged madam to the stars. But aside from investigating the gossip-rich prostitution allegations, Los Angeles police have been closely reviewing other aspects of the case, including possible gambling, extortion and drug trafficking on a large scale. Moscow's Invisible Hand Washington--Moscow officially claims to be neutral in the conflicts brewing in the former Soviet republic of GEORGIA. But U.S. and Georgian intelligence reports show that the Russian army has been providing weapons, detailed intelligence and direct operational military support to Abkhazian separatists fighting the Georgian government. Also, Russian military-intelligence officers have met with opponents of Georgian head of state Eduard Shevardnadze and discussed demonstrations against him that are planned for September. Honey, I've Asked the Macbeths In for Drinks In the Clintonian 1990s, the President and his wife aren't the only Washington couple whose careers are brilliantly synergistic. Here's a list of some of the others, ranked by their GorbScore, a rating from 1 to 10 derived from a formula that measures the couple's influence and charm, using as a benchmark the models of modern power partnership, Mikhail and Raisa Gorbachev. G = (P1 x P2) + .4(SD1 x SD2) DLC P=Power, SD=Social Desirability, DLC=Degree to which the DLC couple has anything to do with the Democratic Leadership Council 1. Bob and Elizabeth Dole 9.4 Senate minority leader/president of the Red Cross; flip side to Bill and Hillary 2. Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Martin Ginsburg 9.1 Supreme Court Justice/Ross Perot's sometime tax attorney; nice jobs to have these days 3. Marian Wright Edelman and Peter Edelman 8.9 President, Children's Defense Fund/counselor at HHS; liberal icons, she as Hillary's spiritual godmother, he as R.F.K. aide 4. Strobe Talbott and Brooke Shearer 8.6 Czar of all policy dealing with former U.S.S.R./director of White House intern program; Oxford-era F.O.B.S, and she decides future of ambitious policy wonks 5. Alan Greenspan and Andrea Mitchell 8.4 Fed chairman/NBC White House correspondent (dating); adroit on tennis courts and as dinner partners 6. Bruce and Hattie Babbitt 8.3 Interior Secretary/delegate to Organization of American States; points for popularity 7. James Carville and Mary Matalin 7.8 Clinton's gonzo populist strategist/former Bush campaign aide and current CNBC talk-show host; relishing their odd-couple image 8. Tim Russert and Maureen Orth 7.5 NBC Washington bureau chief/special correspondent for Vanity Fair; she took capable Buffalo, New York, pol and led him to media glamour 9. Al Hunt and Judy Woodruff 7.4 Wall Street Journal D.C. bureau chief/CNN anchor; fixtures of permanent media establishment, give good parties 10. Tom and Ruth Harkin 6.8 Democratic Senator from Iowa/ president, Overseas Private Investment Corp.; his presidential bid never exactly took off 11. Joseph Duffey and Anne Wexler 6.4 USIA director/lobbyist with the Wexler Group; well-liked old liberals 12. Kerry Kennedy Cuomo and Andrew Cuomo 6.1 Director of the R.F.K. Memorial Center for Human Rights/Assistant Secretary at HUD; not much fun but great last names 13. Haynes Johnson and Marcia Hale 5.8 Washington Post writer/President's director of scheduling; he writes books, she juggles world's most fluid schedule 14. Bob Barnett and Rita Braver 5.7 Lawyer, agent to media and political stars for book and television contracts/CBS White House correspondent; he's feared as much by the networks as she is by the White House 15. Susan Molinari and Bill Paxon 3.6 Staten Island, New York, Congresswoman/Buffalo, New York, Congressman (both Republicans); extra points for announcing their engagement on House floor this month Health Report THE GOOD NEWS -- Most condoms today are made of latex, which breaks only 2% of the time but disintegrates when used with oil-based lubricants. London International Group, whose American subsidiary is Schmid Laboratories, announced the development of a polyurethane prophylactic that it claims is not only impervious to oils but also thinner than latex and just as strong. The product should be on the market by next year. -- Some worry about contraception, others about conception. Until recently, in vitro fertilization has been useful mostly for women's reproductive complications, but a respected Belgian researcher has developed a technique that should help men with low sperm counts. His method of injecting a single sperm into the egg, he says, has a 65% fertilization rate. THE BAD NEWS -- Doctors have been debating the question of sex bias in treatment for several years. Until now the issue of most concern was whether men receive more aggressive treatment for heart disease than women do. Now an extensive study suggests that women who see male doctors are only half as likely to be given Pap smears for cervical cancer and are 40% less likely to receive mammograms than those with female physicians. -- The rash of deaths on the Navajo Indian reservation last spring was caused by dust carrying the urine or saliva of mice infected with the hantavirus. Researchers thought the outbreak might be limited, but have now identified hantavirus deaths in California and Louisiana, and believe the virus may have been the cause of many previously misdiagnosed deaths. Sources--GOOD: Associated Press, New England Journal of Medicine; BAD: New York Times Nick At Nite: The Movie The Fugitive is only the latest of a recent spate of movies that are based on a very specific type of TV show: the ones that baby boomers watched in the '60s as kids and that then became classics of camp popular culture, seen everywhere in reruns. Is the logical conclusion of all this that someone will make a movie of The Beverly Hillbillies? Yes, it is. TWILIGHT ZONE Film released: 1983 TV show aired: 1959-65 Updated how: No Rod Serling narration in film DRAGNET Film released: 1987 TV show aired: 1952-70 Rerun status: Nick at Nite THE UNTOUCHABLES Film released: 1987 TV show aired: 1959-63 Updated how: No Walter Winchell narration in film BATMAN Film released: 1989 TV show aired: 1966-68 Updated how: No Robin, no Frank Gorshin in film; no Expressionism in show ADDAMS FAMILY Film released: 1991 TV show aired: 1964-66 Updated how: Film's Morticia played by Jack Nicholson's ex-girlfriend DENNIS THE MENACE Film released: June '93 TV show aired: 1959-63 Rerun status: Nickelodeon THE FUGITIVE Film released: August '93 TV show aired: 1963-67 Rerun status: A&E THE BEVERLY HILLBILLIES Film release: This fall TV show aired: 1962-71 Rerun status: TBS Updated how: Billionaires THE FLINTSTONES Film release: Spring '94 TV show aired: 1960-66 Rerun status: Cartoon Net. MAVERICK Film release: Summer '94 TV show aired: 1957-62 Updated how: In film, Mel Gibson as young James Garner, James Garner as older James Garner </body> </article> </text>