THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Saturday, August 20, 1994              TAG: 9408200346
SECTION: FRONT                    PAGE: A1   EDITION: FINAL 
TYPE: Opinion 
                                             LENGTH: Medium:   66 lines

THE EDUCATION OF BILL CLINTON

THE EDUCATION OF BILL CLINTON

Since taking office, President Clinton has seen some of his most ambitious initiatives - a gun bill, NAFTA, budget reductions - pushed to the brink of legislative ruin and then revived. In recent days, he carried with him the lessons from these clashes as he championed two of his centerpiece proposals - health care reform and crime. Now Clinton may find the tests of his first 19 months - and of recent days - providing some answers for how he might confront the challenges ahead.

HOW HE GOT HERE

The Candidate: Clinton campaigned as a man of the people in touch with the middle class and their frustration with Washington politics. ``Don't stop thinking about tomorrow,'' became his campaign anthem.

Mr. Outside: Using his wife, Hillary, to champion some of his major initiatives, Clinton and his youthful administration set themselves up as antidotes for the ``inside the Beltway'' politicking of Washington. But that strategy backfired with missteps from key aides; it also alienated Clinton from Capitol Hill and required him to mend fences with key legislators.

His Early Presidency: Clinton's term so far has been one of victories by narrow margins. He made health care reform a defining issue of his presidency, but the public never really gave more than lip service to his sweeping plan. Clinton called for a get-tough attitude on crime, and while a violence plagued public responded more passionately, special interests, such as the NRA, have picked the plan apart.

WHERE HE'S GOING

The President As Democrat:

With the November election barely two months away, Clinton faces a kind of voting booth referendum on his presidency: voters unhappy with his performance may use the election to upset Democratic incumbents. Clinton's job will be to campaign not just for individual lawmakers, but to ward off the gridlock he could expect from a House with its first Republican majority in 40 years.

Mr. Inside:

While Clinton must maintain his spiritual link with the mainstream of America, he also will have to continue his lessons in how to work more effectively behind the scenes on Capitol Hill by building bi-partisan support for his initiatives. And yet he cannot afford to have compromise be interpreted as surrender.

The Next 29 Months:

Clinton's biggest challenge will be to maintain momentum for his programs and his bid to fundamentally change government in the face of fierce personal and political attacks. His wife, Hillary, will likely remain a magnet for both praise and criticism. Whitewater and the Paula Jones case will continue to vex him. And his ability to cope with world crises and foreign affairs will continue to come into question. To succeed, Clinton will have to remain faithful to his Administration's blueprint for reform. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo

President Clinton at Frriday's news conference.

"I believe what I have to do is to keep trying to change things.

Any time you try to provoke as much change as I have...you will be

criticized.

KEYWORDS: CLINTON PRESIDENCY BILL CLINTON CLINTON ADMINISTRATION by CNB