The Week April 10-16

NATION

Mitchell Turns Down the Court

In a surprise move that clearly baffled and dismayed his Senate colleagues, retiring Senate majority leader George Mitchell turned down the President's offer to be nominated to the U.S. Supreme Court to succeed Justice Harry Blackmun. Mitchell said he wanted to devote his full efforts to passing the President's health-care plan. Speculation immediately shifted to minority contenders, including Connecticut federal Judge Jose Cabranes, Solicitor General Drew Days and New York federal Judge Amalya Kearse.

Cigarette Chiefs Get Blasted

For more than six hours, the top executives of the nation's seven largest tobacco companies underwent a hostile televised grilling before California Congressman Henry Waxman's House health subcommittee. The executives denied that cigarettes are addictive or that their companies manipulate nicotine content to keep smokers hooked. Cigarettes are no more addictive than coffee, tea or Twinkies, allowed one executive. "The difference between cigarettes and Twinkies," responded Waxman sharply, "is death."

Hillary's Profits Revised -- Up

The White House disclosed that a second commodities-trading account maintained by Hillary Rodham Clinton during 1979 and 1980 produced a $6,500 profit -- not a $1,000 loss as the couple had previously maintained. The cost to the Clintons: $14,615 in back taxes and interest they agreed to pay voluntarily. President Clinton complained tartly to newspaper editors that it was impossible to recall precisely family finances of 15 years ago: "You think I should have shut the whole Federal Government down and done nothing but study these things for the last two months?"

House Backs Ultimate Penalty

The House demonstrated its get-tough mood by voting the death penalty for more | than 60 crimes, from carjacking murders to treason, as the new crime bill made its way through Congress.

Kelso's Stars

At the urging of top Pentagon officials, the Senate Armed Services Committee recommended 20 to 2 that Admiral Frank Kelso be permitted to retire with his four stars -- and accompanying pension -- intact. This despite his role in the Tailhook scandal, which remains in dispute. The full Senate is expected to agree.

Trust-Fund Warnings

The government issued revised estimates on the solvency of Social Security and Medicare. Both remain in trouble: the Social Security old age and disability trust funds are expected to run out of money in 2029, the Medicare hospital trust fund in 2001. Congress faces the task of finding a solution.

Honk If You Like to Drive!

To the praise of an assemblage of politicians vying for credit, including Democratic Vice President Al Gore and Republican Governor Pete Wilson, the quake-damaged pivotal Santa Monica Freeway reopened to Los Angeles' car- addicted commuters, who wasted no time forsaking public transportation.

Flood Season Again

The country's midsection got an unpleasant reminder of the great flood of '93 when heavy spring rains swelled rivers to overflowing in several states, once again sending residents scurrying to higher ground and bringing out legions of sandbag volunteers. At least six deaths were reported.

WORLD

Gorazde Threatened