From: clarinews@clarinet.com (HELEN THOMAS, UPI White House Reporter)
Newsgroups: clari.news.politics,clari.news.features,biz.clarinet.sample
Followup-to: biz.clarinet.sample
Subject: Backstairs at the White House
Keywords: politics
Date: Wed, 8 Apr 92 6:45:01 PDT
Location: standing features
ACategory: commentary
Slugword: backstairs
Priority: advance
Format: feature
ANPA: Wc: 648; Id: z2729; Sel: xknpb; Adate: 4-8-1aed; Ver: adv1112
Codes: ynpbfxk.
Note: adv weekend april 11-12
 (600)

	WASHINGTON (UPI) -- Even when women hold top positions in the
presidential political hierarchy, the ``glass ceiling'' is still there,
thwarting their efforts to be part of the team.
	Torie Clarke, a bright, glib woman, who is the spokeswomen for the
Bush Re-Election Committee, is reportedly frustrated for lack of
communication with the higher-ups in the operation.
	Although she is queried by the media on every subject under the sun
in the current contest, there is a lack of access to the decision-
makers.
	The two men running the re-election effort, pollster Robert Teeter
and former businessman Fred Malek play their cards close to the chest,
without the benefit of her advice. She is not clued in on their
deliberations, and were it not for a third member of the Bush campaign
troika, Mary Matalin, Clarke would be completely in left field.
	But her problem is not unique. Sheila Tate, who was Bush's
spokeswoman during the 1988 campaign, was also kept out of the loop. As
a result, reporters go elsewhere for the information they are seeking.
                              ------
	Perks? What perks? Asked a White House aide when questioned about
what perks presidential staffers were giving up in the new age of
austerity.
	The spotlight on the House bank and post office scandals, which
shamed the lawmakers, is reflected at the White House where a second
look is being taken at the perks afforded top staffers with their
chauffeured cars that take them to and from work.
	But the aide said that if any privileges of serving the president are
found to be unnecessary, they will be removed. No noticeable perks have
been eliminated from the presidential bailiwick or the Executive
Mansion.
	Meanwhile, two prominent administration officials, Secretary of State
James Baker and budget director Richard Darman, are shedding some of
their perks. Baker, astounded that his personal trips on military
aircraft cost the taxpayers over $371,000, has decided to fly commercial
when he is engaged in non-official travel.
	Darman has started to drive himself to work.
                              ------
	Wives of candidates who express their opinions are more interesting
than those who think they should be seen and not heard.
	But there are pitfalls for those who do peak out. In her years in
politics and the public eye, Barbara Bush has learned to suppress her
opinions and to avoid the controversial issues. She plays it safe and
stays out of trouble that way.
	Hillary Clinton, wife of the Democratic presidential candidate, Bill
Clinton, lands in hot water when she expresses her straight-from-the-
shoulder views.
	She has evoked criticism in comments that she is not like Tammy
Wynette of ``stand by your man'' fame, and as a lawyer she does not
think she has to stay home and bake cookies. She also has had to
apologize for remarks in a magazine interview.
	So nothing is easy for the wives of candidates. But the first lady,
when she isn't ardently defending her husband, adopts the view that
silence is golden when it comes to controversy.
                              ------
	President Bush would be hard put to replace Marlin Fitzwater, his
White House spokesman, if Fitzwater should decide to quit. He would have
to look long and hard for a replacement since Fitzwater has mastered the
job and is extremely cool under fire.
	He denies he has been toying with the idea of leaving because of
frustration with the disarray in the White House under the leadership of
chief of staff Samuel Skinner and his deputy, W. Henson Moore, as
recently reported.
	But Fitzwater, who has put in 5 1/2 years in the job of press
secretary, has a chance to exceed the tenure of Larry Speakes, who was
President Reagan's press spokesman for six years, if he stays at the
White House.
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