Gingrich calls Clinton a 'misogynist'

The sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that at a closed-door meeting of GOP lawmakers Gingrich detailed Clinton's version of events in his relationship with the young aide - multiple episodes in which the president received oral sex without touching her sexually and with no instances of sexual intercourse.

If that account is to be believed, Gingrich said, Clinton's behavior is that of a "misogynist," a word whose dictionary definition is a hatred of women.

Gingrich made the comment as he argued against a suggestion that Republicans reconsider plans to release a videotape of the president's Aug. 17 grand jury testimony.

The full Judiciary Committee is to meet today in closed-door session and is expected to vote to release the videotape - over the objection of Democrats - as well as other evidence.

In the weekly GOP caucus, or conference, Gingrich noted the House had voted last week to release the material that Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr had compiled as evidence of impeachable offenses. The speaker said Clinton's lawyers continue to mount a legalistic defense, these sources added.

The speaker made his comments as the GOP point person in the impeachment review, Rep. Henry Hyde, (R-Ill.) conceded "youthful indiscretions" with a woman more than three decades ago, at a time when both were married to others. Hyde was 41 at the time.

He issued the statement as Salon Magazine, an online publication, circulated copies of an article detailing an alleged affair between Hyde and the woman in the 1960s.

In his statement, Hyde said, "The only purpose for this being dredged up now is an obvious attempt to intimidate me, and it won't work. ... I intend to fulfill my constitutional duty and deal judiciously with the serious felony allegations presented to Congress."

For his part, Clinton urged the public and Congress to avoid getting "mired in all the details" of his relationship with Lewinsky.

Asked whether he might resign, he declined to answer yes or no, responding instead that Americans "want me to go on." He would not respond to questions about whether he had committed perjury or whether Lewinsky told the truth when she described their White House trysts.

According to several sources, Hyde earlier told the GOP caucus that he had heard that friends of the White House had hired two law firms to dig up embarrassing information about prominent Republicans. These sources said Hyde provided no details, and the White House has denied any such "scorched earth strategy."

Hyde issued a memo to all members of his panel this week noting media reports of a "scorched earth" strategy by friends of the president. He asked committee members to notify him of any relevant information and said the panel is prepared to "conduct a swift investigation of such reports and refer all allegations" to the Justice Department.

Christina Martin, Gingrich's press secretary, issued a statement that did not confirm the speaker's closed-door remarks but said: "Speaking with great clarity and a calm focus, the speaker reminded members that we have a duty to the American people as voted on by Republicans and Democrats alike that includes giving the public access to all the facts.

"They can reach their own conclusions free of spin and misleading," she added.

The House voted last week, 363-63, to release the 18 boxes of evidence that Starr has submitted, minus any material that the Judiciary Committee finds unsuitable for the public.

The House can release grand jury material because federal court rules saying such material should be kept secret apply only to the judicial branch, Republicans and a number of Democrats have said.

09-17-98