Chicago Tribune from Chicago, Illinois • Page 1

flrfkS 41 No. 28 Chicago Tribun 7Sect(oni HIE STATE OF HIE UNION EBmtfao Jl "jl THE ADDRESS T1IE SCANDAL Keeping Social Security solvent, improving education top agenda First lady spars with Starr over charge of 'right-wing conspiracy1 By Roger Simon Washington Bureau WASHINGTON Ignoring the scandal that threatens his presidency, President Clinton proposed in his State of the Union address Tuesday an election-year agenda designed to save Social Security, increase spending on education and boost child day care. Clinton also spoke directly to Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein, warning him that further defiance of United Nations inspections to By Naftali Bendavid Washington Bureau WASHINGTON Reprising a role she has played since the dawn of President Clinton's political career, First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton took to the airwaves Tuesday, to passionately defend him and harshly attack his accusers as part of a "vast right-wing conspiracy." The apparent attempt to shift the public focus from the president's doings to the 4 iC Hillary Clinton: 'There has been a vast right-wing conspiracy against my husband since the day he announced for Kenneth Starr: That is nonsense. Our current investigation began when we received credible evidence of serious federal tactics of independent counsel Kenneth Starr intensified the spotlight on the controversial prosecutor. Starr angrily dismissed the first lady's assertions as "nonsense," and previously quiet senators joined the debate.

While the political battle heated up, the legal maneuvering continued as Starr summoned Betty Currie, the president's personal secretary, before the grand jury investigating whether President Clinton had an affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky, then lied about it and urged her to do the same. It was Currie whose name Lewin-. sky allegedly gave as a contact when she entered the White House after hours. Presidential adviser and confidant Ver prevent Iraq from developing weapons of mass destruction would not be tolerated. Speaking calmly and confidently, even as allegations of sexual impropriety continued to swirl around him, Clinton declared that "these are good times for America" and the "state of our union is strong." The president outlined the Democrats' game plan for the midterm election in November, repeating plans for massive federal spending on education, child care and increasing the minimum wage.

Clinton gave a normal speech in abnormal circumstances. Americans are deeply divided over how they feel about the president and his fitness to lead and have been expressing that division in forums ranging from On Social Security 'Every penny of any (budget) surplus' would go to strengthen the system. On education A national effort to 'reduce class size in the early On Iraq 'I speak for everyone in this when I say to Saddam Hussein: You cannot deny the will of the 1 radio talk shows to Internet chat rooms. So in his fifth State of the Union address, Clinton chose themes that would unify: spending on popular domestic issues and confronting foreign enemies. "We must work together, learn together, live together and serve together," Clinton said.

"We are many. We must be one." As expected, Clinton made no mention of See Clinton, Back Page non Jordan also said Currie had forwarded Lewinsky's name to him for his recommendation for a job in private industry in New York. Jordan has denied allegations he tried to persuade Lewinsky to deny she had an affair with the president. But little progress was reported in what is currently the scandal's central story line: negotiations between Starr and Lewinsky on whether she will receive immunity from prosecution in exchange for telling her story. Her lawyer, William Ginsburg, said See Starr, Page 12 AP photo President Clinton acknowledges applause Tuesday.

Behind him are Vice President Al Gore and House Speaker Newt Gingrich. THE PRESIDENTS SECRETARY Oval Office gatekeeper finds herself in harsh spotlight Complete coverage Clinton hopes his public successes drown out his personal problems. Back Page. GOP lawmakers say the proposals are a start, but they have their own plans. Page 10.

In the battle for the airwaves, titillation' walks all over Page 11. Midwestemers are willing to back Clinton for now. Page 11. yS H. relationship with Clinton when she testified in the Paula Jones sexual harassment case.

Jordan has denied any impropriety and said he has helped many young people get jobs over the years. For the past five years, Currie has been Clinton's gatekeeper and fierce protector. Typically wearing a crisp blazer and pearls, her hair pulled back into a chignon, she See Currie, Page 10 Lewinsky sent the president In addition, Washington power-broker and Clinton friend Vernon Jordan has portrayed Currie as a central player in the attempt to find a Job for Lewinsky after she left the White House. Jordan said he arranged private-sector Job interviews for Lewinsky at Currie's request; Starr is examining whether that help was part of an effort to keep Lewinsky from making claims about her closed in to record her arrival to testify before Whitewater independent counsel Kenneth Starr's grand jury. Starr is investigating whether Clinton had an affair with a White House intern and asked her to lie about it, a charge Clinton has denied.

It was Currie, a native of Wauke-gan, 111., who reportedly cleared intern Monica Lewinsky to enter the White House several times, and Currie who also received packages By David Jackson Washington Bureau WASHINGTON As she pushed through the throng of reporters outside the federal courthouse Tuesday, President Clinton's personal secretary was a reminder of how, in public dramas, it is often the smallest players who pay the largest price. Betty Currie, 57, hunched her shoulders as the media horde AP photo Betty Currie leaves after giving grand jury testimony Tuesday. U.S. works to gain allies' support for strike at Iraq TODAY'S TRIBUNE INTERNET Asbestos scare spurs snack recall ST. it 1 7 'f I Clintons I President paintf roi of tl rtateotttui Secretary of State Madeleine Albright leaves Wednesday or Thursday for talks in Europe on what an aide called "next steps" with her counterparts from Russia, France and Britain.

Then she will proceed to the Mideast for further consultations on Iraq as well as the stalled peace process. As Albright presses American diplomacy, Defense Secretary William Cohen has tentatively decided to travel to the Persian Gulf region next week for talks with moderate Arab allies. Other nations also are involved in diplomatic efforts. A top Russian diplomat arrived Tuesday in Baghdad on a mission aimed at See Iraq, Page 7 1 1 1 tm i n3 By David S. Cloud Washington Bureau WASHINGTON The Clinton administration escalated pressure on Iraq on Tuesday, as senior officials announced talks with U.S.

allies on possible military action and President Clinton said Saddam Hussein "cannot defy the will of the world." In his State of the Union address to Congress, Clinton delivered a blunt warning to Hussein: "You have used weapons of mass destruction before. We are determined to deny you the capacity to use them again." Although Clinton did not mention the possibility of military action to force Iraq to cooperate with United Nations weapons inspections, his top aides are openly discussing Pentagon planning for a possible bombing strike sometime next month involving U.S. and British naval and air forces in the Persian Gulf. By Nancy Millman Tribune Staff Writer In one of the largest food recaHs in state history, the maker of Hostess snack foods on Tuesday recalled, because of possible asbestos contamination, several million food items baked at a northwest suburban plant. At the same time, the Illinois attorney general's office said it is investigating whether the company, Interstate Bakeries may have violated state law in a recent asbestos removal project that may have contaminated the bakery, which the state Environmental Protection Agency has sealed until further notice.

Interstate Bakeries, based in Kansas City, is the nation's biggest baker and is the parent company of the Hostess line of snacks, such as Twinkies, Tribune photo by Jose M. Osono Empty Hostess racks at a Chicago Dominick's store. Dominicks' headquarters at noon alerted its stores to a possible recall. High performance The Tribune launches a completely overhauled web site that offers an easier and faster way to view the day's news. Find it at chicago.tritxine.eom WEATHER Wednesday: Cloudy; high 40.

Wednesday night: Low 32. Thursday: Rainsnow; high 33. Full report in Sec, 2, pg. 12. Illinois officials said they are concerned that all food made at the plant between Jan.

11 and Jan. 26 may be contaminated with asbestos. There have been no reports of illnesres related to the consump-j See Recall, Page 8' HoHo's and Dolly Madison cakes, some of the best-selling brands in the country. The bakery in northwest suburban Schiller Park is the biggest producer of Twinkies in the nation and supplies Illinois and 20 other states. "00001" '49485.