Across the Nation Greenspan nominated for fourth term WASHINGTON - Alan Greenspan was nominated for a fourth term as chair of the Federal Reserve yesterday by President Clinton, who praised the 73-year-old Republican economist for helping pilot the U.S. economy to what will soon become the longest economic expansion in history. In accepting Clinton's request to stay on the job another four years, Greenspan joked that it was "like eating peanuts. You keep doing it, keep doing it and you never get tired, because the future is always unknowable." Although Wall Street holds Greenspan in the highest regard, the announcement of a fourth term did not prevent a plummet in stock prices yesterday. The Dow Jones industrial average suffered its fourth-worst point decline in history, dropping 359.58 points to close at 10,997.93. Analysts blamed the precipitous drop on rising fears of further Fed interest rate increases rather than the Greenspan announcement. But some did say those rate increases were more likely now that Clinton has removed any uncertainty about renominating Greenspan. Clinton, who praised Greenspan's "rare combination of technical expertise, sophisticated analysis and old-fashioned common sense," announced his decision during a brief Oval Office ceremony with Greenspan at his side. Gene link cited in lung cancer risk WASHINGTON - A gene that is more active in women than in men may explain why women smokers are more than twice as likely to develop lung cancer as men smokers, researchers say. Researchers studying the genetic structure of lung tissue cells removed from both men and women found that a gene linked to abnormal growth of lung cells is much more active in women. "Women are more likely to develop lung cancer after less smoking exposure than are men," said Sharon Shriver, a Pennsylvania State University biologist. "Also a nonsmoker who develops lung cancer is three times more likely to be female than male. Our study may provide an explanation for this." The study showed that the action of a specific gene increased lung cancer risk in both women and men smokers, but the risk was 12 times higher for women smokers with the active gene and only 2.4 times higher for men smokers who had the active gene, said Shriver. Shriver is first author of the study appearing today in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. Dole to endorse Bush for nomination BEDFORD, N.H. - George W. Bush picked up the endorsement of former GOP rival Elizabeth Dole yesterday and took dead aim at his leading challenger, saying John McCain's tax-cut plan would not do as much for lower-income Americans as his own $483 billion. Dole compared him to President Reagan, calling him "my kind of conservative" and saying he would restore trust in a tarnished White House. "Today we rally to another Western governor, just as bold at challenging the status quo, just as resolved to restore pride in our institutions, just as determined to be himself," Dole said, recalling Reagan's tenure as California governor. McCain told reporters that Dole's endorsement and Bush's attack are natural results of a strong challenge to a front-runner backed by the party's establishment. Bush, in a deadheat with McCain in New Hampshire, according to most polls, is trying to draw sharper distinctions between his rival ahead of the nation's first primary Feb. 1. Dole's endorsement added to Bush's collection of high-profile backers as he tries to fend off those challenges and court female voters nationwide. Both Dole and Bush were quick to douse speculation that Bush's kickoff appearance for the year in New Hampshire was a preview of a Bush-Dole ticket. "First things first," Bush told reporters. "It's important to have a strong woman like Elizabeth Dole standing by my side to help me win the primaries and the caucuses." Dole, too, declined to be drawn into vice presidential speculation. She said, "The governor has got to win the nomination and when he does the party is very fortunate to have a large number of very talented leaders with great experience from which he can choose." "It's gonna get very, very, very intense," McCain said. "It's gonna get very tough. When you see a campaign get traction, it gets very tough. I have every reason to think it's gonna get tougher." The challenges to Bush's front-runner status stretch beyond New Hampshire. In Iowa, he is leading Steve Forbes, but the campaign is wary that the publisher could soon unleash an ad blitz similar to the one that Dole's husband, Bob, felt weakened him in his 1996 race. She had pursued the nomination herself until October, when she quit the race citing a lack of money. By that time, Bush had raised $57 million to her $5 million. "There is a tax gap in this campaign," Bush declared. "His plan doesn't address the people who live on the outskirts of poverty, working hard to get to the middle class." Bush didn't rule out running television ads critiquing McCain's tax-cut plans, and aides said the option was under discussion. "We're staying flexible'' on ad strategies, the Texas governor told reporters after shaking hands with Iowa supporters for more than an hour Tuesday night. McCain, meanwhile, said Bush's tax-cutting plan disproportionately benefits the rich. His campaign also announced he would begin a round of newspaper ads in New Hampshire on Wednesday, seeking to reaffirm his commitment to keeping Internet sales free from taxation and to underscore a difference with Bush on the issue. The Texas governor supports extending an existing ban on taxing Internet sales, set to expire in October 2001, at least through 2004, according to Bush's Web site, and the new ads by McCain will be the senator's way of fending off Bush's attacks on taxes. Bush had a quick reply for McCain. "This is criticism from someone who doesn't talk about helping anybody from the bottom of the economic spectrum,'' Bush said in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Asked how he would do that, Bush pointed to their competing tax-cut plans. ''There is a difference of attitude. There is a difference of opinion,'' Bush said. ''He's called my plan too big; so has Vice President Gore, and I believe my plan not only is just right, it's realistic, it can get done and it's going to make a big difference for the families of the country.'' Bush said that under his plan, a family of four earning $50,000 would see their taxes cut by $2,000 and under Sen. McCain's plan, that same family would save only $200. McCain aides said Bush was criticizing a compromise tax-cut plan the senator had proposed in Congress to help end the budget standoff last year. The tax-cut plan McCain will propose next week will be more generous to lower and middle income Americans, his campaign said. McCain, asked to respond aboard his campaign bus across town, didn't address the different figures, but said Bush had characterized his stance wrongly. ''I don't view Governor Bush's tax cut as too big, I view it as misplaced,'' said McCain, who in the past has criticized the plan as too hefty. ''Sixty percent of the tax cut goes to the wealthiest 10 percent of Americans. That's not the kind of tax relief that I think America needs.'' Ari Fleischer, a Bush spokesman, accused McCain of pitting the rich against the poor. ''It's wrong to engage in class warfare,'' Fleischer said. ''That's what the Democrats like to do and I hope Republicans in the primary do not engage in class warfare.'' Bush planned Wednesday to spotlight the extra tax savings he said his plan would offer, using Iowa citizens at a campaign stop in Cedar Rapids to demonstrate how they could save more money. Originally on page 2A in the 1-5-2000 issue of the Daily.