Hillary Clinton Soldiers On

January 29, 1996

By CNN Correspondent Claire Shipman

WASHINGTON -- After the climactic end to last week's travails -- the First Lady testifying before a grand jury at the federal courthouse here -- the White House is licking its wounds and searching for ways to reverse plunging poll numbers.

So far at least, the tactics for rebuilding Hillary Clinton's image remain the same. First and foremost, the goal is to keep her talking, especially about her big issue -- children -- as she did at a White House event Monday.

"Children bear a special burden in war," she said. "Not only are they robbed of their loved ones and homes and schools and communities. They are robbed of their spirit. Today the children of Bosnia are truly the world's orphans." Next week, she's off to the West Coast to promote her new book about raising children -- and to face down more questions about Whitewater.

She was in New Hampshire last week, and this Friday she takes to the hustings to crisscross Iowa talking politics for her husband. Aides insist she's still an asset on the campaign trail. Ann Lewis, deputy director of Clinton's re-election campaign, said Mrs. Clinton "is one of the most popular, most highly requested, surrogates we have at the campaign."

Popular or not, aides say, the First Lady can hardly retreat now. But there is some concern about her style. She's said to be emotionally exhausted, after weeks of public drubbing. Some at the White House think her performance has reflected that; she's been tense and defensive. Aides hope a more relaxed, easy-going Hillary Clinton will emerge this time around.

Nancy Reagan's former image builder thinks being a little less lawyerly wouldn't be bad. "I think there's an undertone of feeling that maybe this person is very much trying to be in control of her situation -- not to appear vulnerable -- and maybe a little vulnerability isn't bad,'' said Jim Rosebush.

Advisors are still weighing a news conference, for example, or voluntary congressional testimony -- but until the book tour is over, those questions aren't pressing. As far as congressional testimony goes, one worry for White House lawyers is that if she volunteers, Republicans might say fine, but come in October -- a campaign nightmare.

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