The Week June 12-18

NATION

The Simpson Tragedy

After leaving a note proclaiming his innocence and leading police on an extraordinary freeway chase televised live across the nation, football superstar and television sportscaster O.J. Simpson surrendered to authorities at his mansion in Los Angeles. Capping five days of intensive investigation and media scrutiny, police arrested Simpson on charges of murdering his former wife and her friend outside her home.

Health-Care Maneuvers

House Democrats united to fend off what they claimed (and some Republicans virtually conceded) to be Republican obstructionism on health care. The House Ways and Means Committee sided with other congressional committees and voted in favor of mandating employers to finance health insurance, with breaks for small businesses. But leaders of the Senate Finance Committee told President Clinton they did not have the votes on their panel for such a provision, which the President favors. First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton raised the possibility of negotiating away abortion coverage, if necessary, to pass a compromise bill.

Exxon Valdez Verdict

In a decision that could dig deep into the Exxon Corp.'s pockets, an Alaska federal jury concluded that the oil giant was reckless in permitting a captain with a history of drinking to command the Exxon Valdez, the oil tanker that ran aground five years ago in Prince William Sound and caused the nation's worst oil spill. The verdict against Exxon and Captain Joseph Hazelwood enables local residents to seek $1.5 billion in compensation and $15 billion in punitive damages.

Welfare Reform

President Clinton redeemed one of his big 1992 campaign pledges by formally unveiling his $9.3 billion welfare-reform plan. Its central features would expand job training for recipients and require those born after 1971 to join a work program after two years or risk losing benefits. Chances of passage this year: virtually nil in a Congress already clogged with health reform.

Bill and Hillary Testify

In an unprecedented 2 1/2-hour session at the White House, the President and the First Lady were interrogated separately under oath by Whitewater special counsel Robert Fiske about the suicide of deputy White House counsel Vincent Foster and a series of Administration discussions regarding the investigation of the S&L at the center of the Whitewater affair. The Senate later voted to hold hearings next month on the same matters -- the least controversial aspects of the Whitewater case -- while Republicans continued to press for a wider inquiry.

An Emperor Comes Calling

Sidestepping the political and economic frictions that have abraded U.S.-Japanese relations of late, President Clinton welcomed Emperor Akihito and his wife Empress Michiko to the White House -- and to his Administration's first state dinner -- for a day of ceremony focused on goodwill and cooperation.

Grass-Roots Free Speech

The U.S. Supreme Court reaffirmed its commitment to free speech by unanimously striking down a Ladue, Missouri, beautification ordinance that prohibited residents from posting political and other signs on their property.

Virginia's Senate Slugfest