Travelgate Revisited

WASHINGTON, D.C.: Chastened by the convictions this week of Jim and Susan McDougal, the White House has decided to give a little ground in another scandal percolating in Washington. Facing a contempt-of-Congress vote against three current and former White House aides, the Administration provided the House Government Reform and Oversight Committee with more than 1,000 pages of documents related to the firing of seven travel-office employees early in 1993. The Administration also provided a list of 2,000 pages it is still withholding, citing executive privilege, a clause most often invoked on matters of national security. White House correspondent James Carney says the McDougals' convictions brought on an abrupt about-face from the Administration. "The White House was feeling pretty cocky about these various scandals until this week, and was playing hardball the Oversight Committee." The Committee's findings will be closely watched by Whitewater special prosecutor Kenneth Starr, whose authority was expanded a couple of months ago to include the travel office affair. Nobody expects today's move to end the Travelgate issue, but by releasing the documents the White House avoids the spectacle of a full House contempt vote against Jack Quinn; David Watkins, the former official who actually did the firing; and former Watkins aide Michael Moore. Scot Woods