The Week December 12-18

NATION

Les Aspin Resigns

Secretary of Defense Aspin stepped down, and President Clinton nominated Bobby Ray Inman, a former admiral, deputy director of the CIA and head of the National Security Agency, as his replacement. Reports made it clear that Aspin was forced out. He had been at the center of controversy since the beginning of his tenure, when he was caught in the middle of the fight over allowing gays in the military. His disorganized, professorial style alienated many in the Pentagon, and in October he was criticized in Congress for his not sending armored vehicles to troops in Somalia who were later caught and decimated in a firefight.

Packwood Diaries

After receiving testimony that Senator Bob Packwood had tampered with his private diaries, lawyers for the Senate ethics committee last week insisted that a subpoena for them be enforced. A secretary who used to work for Packwood said in a deposition that the Oregon Republican altered tapes and tape transcriptions that the Senate has subpoenaed as part of its investigation into Packwood's alleged sexual misconduct. Packwood apparently made the changes before the subpoena was issued. The tapes and transcriptions have now been placed in the custody of a federal judge, and the court is expected to rule on the subpoena by mid-January.

Gay-Rights Ban Struck Down

Colorado's infamous anti-gay rights amendment was declared unconstitutional by a Denver judge. The amendment, passed by voters last year, would have barred state and local laws prohibiting discrimination based on an individual's sexual orientation.

Clinton on Entitlements

At a televised symposium on entitlements in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, Clinton argued against making further cuts in Medicare and Medicaid to reduce the deficit, saying health-care reform would do a better and fairer job of reducing the cost of government health programs.

Hiring Woes

The Administration's hopes to get its civil rights agenda under way were frustrated once more when John Payton, Clinton's latest choice to be Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, withdrew his name. Although backed by major rights groups, Payton, who is black, was opposed by many members of the Congressional Black Caucus. Two other key personnel choices also withdrew: Gerald Torres, who would have been Payton's Justice counterpart on environment < matters, and New York lawyer Harold Ickes, whom Clinton wanted to take over the drive for his health plan.

Annenberg Gift

Publishing billionaire and philanthropist Walter Annenberg will donate $500 million to groups specializing in public school reform.

Segregation on the Rise

De facto segregation is increasing in U.S. schools. A new study by the Harvard Project on School Desegregation found that 66% of black students and 73% of Hispanics attended predominantly minority schools in 1991-92, levels not seen since 1968. The trend is largely the result of greater immigration and higher concentrations of minorities in big cities.

WORLD

Nationalists Gain in Russia