Wake Up to Clinton's Abuses

To the editors:

What does the relative silence of The Crimson on the unfolding scandals in the White House indicate? Fatigue? Disinterest? Distraction? Embarrassment? Please take a deep breath and give the situation some fresh attention.

The President of the United States is asserting--for the first time in history--that the Secret Service is prohibited from testifying about "anything" they learn on duty, because cooperating with a criminal investigation would be an "intrusion." If this outrageous claim is upheld, we will have an imperial Presidency far beyond the wildest dreams of Richard Nixon. Simultaneously, the president is asserting that executive privilege prohibits his wife and assistants from testifying--about matters unrelated to the president's official duties, and which cannot be construed as touching upon national defense. If upheld, this too would be a mind-boggling defeat for the public interest.

These outrageous claims are unworthy of the president and an insult to his supporters. But the press, the public and other leaders seem numbed by the president's popularity in opinion polls.

It is one thing to support the president's public policy goals and another thing to let him get away with things that undermine the long-term interest of the country. It is particularly important for progressives to speak clearly against these excesses. If we do not, we will have forfeited our right to object when imperial tactics are deployed on behalf of future presidents whose policy goals may not be as plausible as Clinton's. JEFF BOOK '81   Beverly Hills, Calif., April 15, 1998