[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 29 (Tuesday, March 17, 1998)]
[House]
[Pages H1172-H1173]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              THE PRESIDENT SHOULD ANSWER QUESTIONS FULLY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 21, 1997, the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Hayworth) is 
recognized during morning hour debates for 5 minutes.
  Mr. HAYWORTH. Mr. Speaker, my colleagues, and those citizens who join 
us here in this chamber, and those citizens, Mr. Speaker, who join us 
electronically from coast to coast and beyond, I would commend to 
everyone's attention today the lead editorial in the Washington Post 
entitled, Ms. Willey's Story. Mr. Speaker, because this editorial is so 
important, I would like to read into the Record portions of the 
editorial, because I believe they make for compelling reading and offer 
a serious case to the American people.
  When Newsweek magazine first reported allegations that President 
Clinton had groped Kathleen Willey in the White House, the President's 
lawyer, Robert Bennett, said his client had ``no specific recollection 
of meeting Willey in the Oval Office.''


                Announcement by the Speaker pro tempore

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Hobson). The gentleman will suspend. The 
Chair would remind the gentleman that he should not refer to personal 
accusations against the President.


                         Parliamentary Inquiry

  Mr. HAYWORTH. Mr. Speaker, a point of parliamentary inquiry. Is it 
then against the rules to also read verbatim from an editorial in a 
widely circulated newspaper?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the precedents, the fact that it may 
be in the public domain elsewhere does not mitigate the statement.
  Mr. HAYWORTH. Well, I thank the Chair for the information, and I find 
it somewhat illuminating.
  Be that as it may, that is an interesting point. For I am not here to 
call into question or impugn anyone's integrity, Mr. Speaker. However, 
there are compelling questions that confront the American people, and 
if duly constitutional elected Members of Congress, then, are asked to 
abridge or silence what is part of the public record, I would suggest 
perhaps that we need to review those rules even as I respect and adhere 
to the rules of the House.
  Let me then simply read the conclusion of the editorial, which I hope 
will be found in concurrence with the rules of the House. I would 
commend to other sources the videotape that appeared on CBS on 60 
Minutes, and I would commend to everyone in this Nation, Mr. Speaker, 
the words in this morning's Washington Post editorial. For the Post, 
which agrees with President Clinton on many policy decisions, today 
makes a very forthright point in concluding its editorial, and I will 
quote from the conclusion.

  Ms. Willey's story adds to the critical mass of allegations the 
President now faces. They need to be answered not by drips and drabs of 
``recovered memory'' or fancy legal wordplay or a public presentation 
of all Ms. Willey's failings. They just need to be answered.''

                Announcement by the Speaker pro tempore

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair would again remind the gentleman 
that those discussions are not appropriate at this time on the floor, 
pursuant to the rules of the House.
  Mr. HAYWORTH. Mr. Speaker, reclaiming my time, I appreciate the rule 
of the Chair, but I believe it is important, Mr. Speaker, that the 
American people take a look at the serious situation confronting the 
executive branch and confronting us all. In that spirit, Mr. Speaker, I 
would simply refer to some comments made in history by a distinguished 
member of the other party and its one-time Presidential nominee, 
Senator Hubert Humphrey of Minnesota, who nearly a quarter of a century 
ago on the NBC telecast Meet The Press, when discussing another

[[Page H1173]]

President confronting another difficult time, offered the advice that 
the President should answer the questions fully and completely, because 
the American people are forgiving people. It is in that spirit that I 
offer the same advice today, not for purposes of partisan tomfoolery, 
but because these questions cut to the very core of our constitutional 
Republic. Indeed, Mr. Speaker, it is difficult to rule or exercise 
moral leadership when there appears to be little moral authority.
  So I offer these observations not to stand and offer contentions for 
the rules of the House, not to be provocative, but because the 
questions need answers. Mr. Speaker, in that vein, for the public good, 
not for partisan political points, I would simply ask this President, 
Mr. Speaker, to follow the advice that Hubert Humphrey offered nearly a 
quarter century ago. Because these issues transcend partisan politics, 
these issues need to be answered.
  Mr. Speaker, I gladly yield my remaining time to my colleague the 
gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Latham).

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