Gore strategists believe a Hispanic on the ticket would cut GOP support among Hispanics in key states like Florida, Colorado and even Texas, where potential presidential rival Gov. George W. Bush has strong ties to the Spanish-speaking community. But the veep has a more immediate problem than sizing up potential running mates: boosting his standing among women voters. The gender gap the Democrats need to win in 2000 disappears when Gore is matched against Bush or Elizabeth Dole. To counter criticism that there are no women in his inner circle, Gore is naming women to three key jobs. He’ll also talk more about pay equity and education, issues of special interest to women.
STARRThe Prosecutor Wants to Rest
Kenneth Starr surprised many of his supporters–and critics–last week by urging Congress to scrap the independent-counsel law under which he has investigated Bill and Hillary Clinton and their associates for the last four and a half years. The prosecutor called the statute, which expires in June, well-intentioned but “constitutionally dubious” because it effectively creates a fourth branch of government. Starr’s investigations can continue even if Congress allows the law to expire. He told senators that once it does, however, he’ll have to reassess the mission of his office–a hint, friends say, that he’s looking for a way to close up shop quickly . According to one confidant, Starr is considering turning over some unfinished aspects of the Whitewater investigation to the Justice Department. But Justice would have difficulty picking up some of the remaining pieces of Starr’s inquiry: two indictments are still pending against Clinton pal Webster Hubbell, a former top Justice official.
RELICSDoor Prize
Six months after john Glenn’s return to space, NASA buffs are looking to relive another Mercury moment. This week a salvage crew begins trolling the ocean floor near the Bahamas for Liberty Bell 7, the capsule that prematurely blew open its hatch and sank after astronaut Gus Grissom splashed down in 1961. If the 14-day mission is successful, the capsule will end up at the Kansas Cosmosphere, a museum in Hutchinson, Kans. But space junkies hope the search will turn up the escape hatch itself and solve the lingering mystery of why it blew.
BOOKSMr. Jesus, Call Your Office
To keep up with the mania for business how-to’s–one survey has shown that most execs wolf down a book a month–publishers are furiously casting historical, even fictional, figures as management gurus. As the icons of leadership become more improbable, vices become virtues, and the gimmick is all that distinguishes the advice. A review of the genre:
W. C. Fields “Never Give a Sucker an Even Break” Insights drawn from Fields’s persona as a shifty drunk “He liked to sleep late, so he chose a career that enabled him to match his energies to his physical needs.”
Gen. Ulysses S. Grant “Cigars, Whiskey & Winning” As general, took high casualties; as president, model of managerial malpractice “A bad reputation is difficult, if not impossible, to shake.”
Jesus Christ “Jesus CEO”
Charismatic founder of world religion “In the wilderness Jesus was given several ‘business opportunities’… But he resisted them because they did not fit his mission statement.”
Jean-Luc Picard “Make It So: Leadership Lessons From Star Trek: The Next Generation” Sci-fi tales reduced to platitudes “A Star Fleet officer is to forgive and forget the honest errors of others.”
The Air War Heats Up as the Air War Heats UpGrave horrors mount in Europe while commentary mounts here at home. News-channel Balkanization mirrors the real thing: countless outlets, endless airtime, innumerable pundits and a search for a hero. The buzz as TV takes on a tragedy:Making Up for Monica
Stat: Kosovo’s getting more weekly network minutes than the scandal did. Are the nets doing penance with a serious story? “Look, Ma, no sex.”
Hail, Hockenberry MSNBC pundit John is the emerging media presence–a thinking person’s Scud stud.
Hurricane Dan Rather cements his on-scene rep. Where are Brokaw and Jennings?
Where’s Stormin’ Norman? We lack a warrior hero to latch onto–a big personality who’s in control.
War of the 24s The all-newsers go all-Kosovo. MSNBC hopes to replicate CNN’s gulf-war breakout.
SUMMER BREAKSun and Fun? Ha! Try Work and Network.THE TEN BEST:
TOUGH TO GET “Hands down,” says Mark Oldman of VaultReports, the hardest internship to get is at the CIA. Also among the toughest is the U.S. Supreme Court. Generally, and unsurprisingly, the higher paid have stiff competition.
PAYS A LOT Think internships are unpaid? Hardly. Oldman says about 60 percent offer salaries. Top dollar: high tech and Wall Street.
HOT FIELDS Finance, high tech and communications. Kids ain’t dumb; they know internships lead to jobs, and they’re thinking about their future careers. Popular, too, is government and nonprofit work.
James Buford Junior, 22 JOB: NationsBanc Montgomery Securities PAYS: $770/week STORY: Followed career-center interview process
Julia Alexander Sophomore, 19 JOB: African Affairs Bureau, State Dept. PAYS: $0 STORY: A prof with Clinton administration connections put in a good word
Jim Tankersley Junior, 21 JOB: The Oregonian newspaper PAYS: $525/week STORY: Editor of school paper; applied twice before; interned elsewhere
Sources: Mark Oldman and Samer Hamadeh, “The Internship Bible”; College Internship Coordinators SPORTSX-vertisements
This week skateboarders, bicycle stunt riders, in-line skaters and other athletes compete for spots in ESPN’s fifth summer X Games. What started out as alternative has gone mainstream–NBC and MTV have their own extreme games –and sponsors, aiming at 12- to 34-year-olds, shell out to slap their logos on stars like biker Dave Mirra (right). Pros risk life and limb for endorsement dollars but make peanuts next to athletes in established sports. A Peri guide to the x-treme ad game:
One rock through your window is vandalism. Three is a protest. In Portland, Maine, Starbucks is replacing its glass storefront for the third time in a month, a rate the cops call unprecedented. Police say there’s no evidence of an anti-Starbucks campaign. But the national coffee chain has come under fire elsewhere for driving out local rivals, and its neighbors in Portland’s historic district suspect the assaults carry a message. Two coffee shops have failed since Starbucks moved in , but neither owner is likely to bear a grudge: both now work at the vandalized store. Starbucks says it is “dedicated to becoming part of the fabric of Maine.”
Vital StatsA Brief Look in Men’s Drawers
Forget nature vs. nurture. Is it boxers or briefs? Some 58 percent of U.S. males say tighty whities. Boxers are most popular with young guys in warmer climes. Michael J. Weiss
TRANSITIONA Total Talent
What kind of fool am I?" Anthony Newley asked in his signature song. The kind who rose from illegitimate Cockney child to actor, singer, composer and creator (with Leslie Bricusse) of the classic ’60s shows “Stop the World–I Want to Get Off” and “The Roar of the Greasepaint–The Smell of the Crowd.” Dead at 67 last week , Newley was one of the last total entertainers, a mix of Chaplin, Jolson and Noel Coward.
From 1960 to 1966–and ever since in reruns–Jean Vander Pyl was the voice of modern Stone Age housewife Wilma Flintstone. Vander Pyl died last week at 79, with a host of radio and cartoon roles to her credit. But she’ll be remembered as Wil-ma!
Conventional WisdomSpecial Slobo- Free Edition
Gretzky + The puck stops here. The Great One’s exit was as classy as his peerless career.
Rodman - The Worm loses socks, shoes, job. Now he has time to look for his marbles.
Strawberry - Old: Everybody’s pulling for comeback kid. New: The new Darryl wasn’t Tampa- proof.
Pamela A. + Shrinks endowment by removing implants. Downside: How will we recognize her?
ETs + New solar system discovered 44 light-years away. Buchanan weighing trade barriers.
Quayle - Insists he has a chance for GOP nomination. Can you spell B-U-S-H?
