THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, September 6, 1996 TAG: 9609060562
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A12 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: BAL HARBOUR, FLA LENGTH: 30 lines
President Clinton canceled plans to christen America's newest aircraft carrier after White House and campaign lawyers warned that it would be considered a political event, spokesman Mike McCurry said Thursday.
Clinton had intended to travel to Newport News on Saturday for the christening of the Harry S Truman.
``The assumption was that the commander in chief could christen one of his own boats,'' McCurry said.
But lawyers advised against it, citing law and precedents established by the Federal Election Commission, McCurry said.
McCurry said the christening would have been ruled a political event had Clinton attended. He said that would have created an awkward situation for the Navy admirals and other high-ranking officers expected to attend.
``And that was the exact opposite of what the president wanted,'' McCurry said.
Secretary of the Navy John Dalton will preside over the event and read the president's statement.
McCurry said under the law, everything a president does between his nomination and election day is considered political with two exceptions: travel and events connected to disasters or national security.
KEYWORDS: PRESIDENTIAL RACE 1996 CAMPAIGNING by CNB