Obstacle Course

THE WHITE HOUSE STAFF FILED INTO THE EAST Room last Friday at 5 p.m. for what had been regarded internally as a badly needed "pep rally." Chief of staff Mack McLarty opened with some keep-your-chin-up remarks. Then came some encouraging words from Tipper Gore and a circumspect comment from Hillary Rodham Clinton. "It's just the first week," she said. Al Gore spoke next, making a joke about his dancing ability. The mood grew lighthearted, reminding several in the audience of what one called "the whole campaign bus-tour thing."

But when President Clinton began to speak, the atmosphere changed. Clinton laid into...