Jack Be Nimble, Jack Be Quick

Whether as a pro quarterback or a political pro, Jack Kemp has always been nimble and quick. Those qualities came in handy last week, as he dealt with the scandal at the Department of Housing and Urban Development, which has billowed from a candlestick into an inferno. Before celebrating his 54th birthday with 54 cakes from admiring employees, the beleaguered HUD chief wryly conceded, "When I first took the nomination from President Bush, I wanted to make HUD a high-profile agency. I don't think this is what I had in mind."

In his trial by fire, the personal stakes are high...