The Week November 14-20

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NATION

The Comeback Kid, Part 29

The North American Free Trade Agreement passed the House by a larger than expected tally of 234 to 200. Reflecting the odd alliance that the vote on the pact engendered, 75% of Republicans voted with the President, while only 40% of Democrats did so. The fate of the agreement had been in grave doubt, and Clinton virtually staked the future of his presidency on its passage, so the victory was substantial. Critics charged that Clinton used too many special deals to sway legislators, while supporters claimed that Clinton's horse trading demonstrated his savvy.

Next: The Pacific

* The day after the NAFTA vote, Clinton flew to Seattle, where his victory strengthened his hand considerably at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Council meeting. The four-day gathering marks the first time the 17 Pacific Rim leaders have ever met as a group as well as the first time an American President has met with a Chinese leader since the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown. The President hoped to use the conference to encourage the opening of new markets.

Gay Ban Unconstitutional

A federal appeals court ruled that the armed forces cannot expel anyone on account of his or her sexual orientation. The U.S. Court of Appeals ruled that Joseph Steffan was wrongfully dismissed from the Naval Academy in 1987 and ordered him to be graduated immediately and given a commission. The effect that the decision will have on the military is unclear. The lawsuit was a challenge to the old policy on gays, but the reasoning appears also to apply to the new "Don't ask, don't tell" policy.

No 51st State

Citizens of Puerto Rico voted 48% to 46% in favor of remaining a commonwealth of the U.S. instead of pursuing statehood status. As a result, Puerto Ricans will still enjoy nearly all the rights of U.S. citizenship along with special tax breaks. And the island can continue to field its own Olympic teams.

Rollins Testifies

Ten days after telling reporters about spending $500,000 to suppress black- voter turnout during the New Jersey gubernatorial race, Republican strategist Edward Rollins gave a deposition to the New Jersey State Democratic Committee, which has filed a civil suit against the campaign of Governor-elect Christine Todd Whitman. Rollins said Friday his original story was a lie, concocted as a "head game" with rival political consultant James Carville.

Justice Department Fraud

According to a federal appeals court, the Justice Department committed fraud and "acted with reckless disregard for the truth" when it withheld evidence that could have prevented the 1986 deportation of Cleveland autoworker John Demjanjuk. The evidence would have shown that someone else may have been Ivan the Terrible, the Nazi death-camp guard Demjanjuk was accused of being.

Football

So much for the luck of the Irish. So much too, it seems, for Notre Dame's chances to win the mythical national football championship. The week Notre Dame had ascended to the top of the polls, gritty Boston College knocked off the Irish in a 41-39 thriller. Undefeated Nebraska now becomes top dog. At least for the time being.

WORLD

Sweeping Away Apartheid