Post-White House Blues

Nobody expected Bill Clinton to fade quietly into the background when his eight years in the White House ended. But in the three weeks since he changed his title from commander-in-chief to private citizen, he's clung to the headlines like no other former president, frequently stealing the spotlight from the man who succeeded him.

It's hardly good news, though, that's kept Mr. Clinton's name above the fold. He's been plagued by scandal after scandal; some minor, others potentially very serious. From questionable pardons to disputes over White House gifts to controversies over office space and big-money speeches, hardly a day has gone by when some new, troubling revelation has not surfaced about the former president.

In what's supposed to be the beginning of the post-Clinton era, it seems we're hearing more about Bill Clinton than ever.

Here's a recap of Mr. Clinton's post-White House woes:

By far the most disturbing story concerns Mr. Clinton's use, and possible abuse, of his executive pardon powers to grant clemency to billionaire fugitive Marc Rich. The case has so angered some in Washington that there has been talk of new impeachment charges against Mr. Clinton, who stands to lose lucrative government benefits, including his presidential library and pension.

But it's not just Republicas who are upset. Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York is one of several Democrats to denounce the Rich pardon, saying he can't "think of a single justification for the Rich pardon. It's wrong, wrong, wrong."

Rich, one of the world's wealthiest men, fled to Switzerland 17 years ago after being convicted on more than 50 counts of racketeering, wire fraud, income tax evasion and illegal oil trading with Iran. He was given an irrevocable presidential pardon on Jan. 20, Mr. Clinton's final day in office.

It has subsequently come to light that Rich's ex-wife, Denise Rich, was a major contributor to the Democratic Party and to Hillary Rodham Clinton's Senate campaign. She also reportedly donated some $450,000 to the yet-to-be-built Clinton presidential library.

A House committee is now probing the pardon and may ask the Justice Department for permission to grant Ms. Rich immunity in exchange for her testimony. She previously refused to answer the committee's questions, citing her Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination.

A criminal investigation into whether Marc Rich illegally funneled money to the Clintons through his former wife is also being weighed.

The Rich case isn't the only pardon to land Mr. Clinton in hot water.

Among the 140 people the former president granted clemency to on his final day in office was a Los Angeles man who was a central player in a cocaine ring that stretched from California to Minnesota. The Los Angeles Times reported over the weekend that the man's father, an affluent L.A. entrepreneur, donated more than $160,000 to state and federal lawmakers during the years of his son's imprisonment.

Mr. Clinton also pardoned Almon Glenn Braswell, a wealthy marketer of herbal remedies, convicted in the 1980s for mail fraud and perjury. Braswell, federal law enforcement officials said, was under investigation on new charges of tax evasion and money laundering at the time the pardon was granted. It was unclear whether Mr. Clinton was aware of the current criminal investigation, or if the pardon would exempt Braswell from the legal inquiry.

Perhaps the most embarrassing flare-up for Mr. Clinton and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., involved disclosures over gifts the couple received while in the White House.

After suggestions that some of the $200,000 in gifts they took with them when they left the residence were not actually intended for them, but for the permanent White House collection, the Clintons agreed to reimburse about half the cost of the gifts. Among those to be repaid was Denise Rich, who gave the Clintons $7,375 in furniture.

Mr. Clinton's post-White House troubles followed him to New York, where his hunt for a new office has stirred still more controversy.

After a proposed deal for high-priced – and taxpayer funded – office space in midtown Manhattan drew fire from critics Mr. Clinton appears to be setting his sites farther uptown.

He's now apparently set to announce a less-expensive Harlem address for his post-White House headquarters.

Finally, even Mr. Clinton's gift for gab appears to be causing him grief.

After delivering his first post-presidential speech last week, at a Morgan Stanley Dean Witter convention in Florida, for a reported $100,000, the company issued an apology to its clients for inviting him after some customers complained.

"We clearly made a mistake," Philip Purcell, the chairman of Morgan Stanley, said in an e-mail to customers.

In a related development, a London-based financial firm has abandoned plans for Mr. Clinton to speak at an investment banking conference, because it fears being dragged into the controversies dogging the ex-president, according to published reports.

UBS Warburg, the parent company of brokerage house PaineWebber, pulled out of discussions to offer Mr. Clinton a paid speaking engagement at the April conference, The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday.

UBS Warburg also was worried that a large speaking fee might give the appearance of impropriety, since one of its senior executives had written a letter to Mr. Clinton urging him to pardon Rich.

BY JOEL ROBERTS
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