Getting Out the Wrecking Ball

In her 15 months as Surgeon General, Dr. Joycelyn Elders urged the government to study legalizing drugs, backed the distribution of contraceptives in schools and counseled abortion foes to get over their "love affair" with the fetus. Bill Clinton stood by her throughout, suggesting that his old Arkansas friend was misunderstood.

Not anymore. The Clinton White House, in a virtual trauma for days, is now desperately trying to regain its footing after the disastrous midterm elections. So when the President learned last Friday morning that Elders had recently called on schools to consider teaching students about masturbation, he lost no time...