THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, January 11, 1997 TAG: 9701110261
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
LENGTH: 34 lines
House Speaker Newt Gingrich's troubles stemming from a taped cellular phone conversation have a Virginia parallel.
A similar tape figured in a major blow-up between two of the state's most prominent politicians a few years ago.
Former Gov. L. Douglas Wilder was secretly taped as he disparaged his political rival, U.S. Sen. Charles S. Robb, on his car phone while lieutenant governor in 1988. The two were Virginia's top two Democratic officeholders at the time.
On the tape, Wilder was heard telling an ally that Robb's political career was in danger because of allegations that he attended parties where drugs were used and that Robb had had extramarital affairs.
Robb denied the allegations.
The illegal tape found its way to Robb's office, and a transcript was leaked to several reporters. A federal grand jury spent 18 months investigating it.
The Virginia Beach restaurateur who taped the conversation and the three former Robb aides who leaked it to the press all eventually pleaded guilty to federal infractions. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Wilder's words were taped.
KEYWORDS: CELLUAR PHONE