Tower to Go Public in Effort to Sway Votes

The Bush Administration will begin a full-court press today to win Senate backing for the embattled nomination of John Tower as defense secretary. Among those leading the assault will be Tower himself.

After weeks of public silence on the allegations about his excessive drinking and womanizing, the former Texas senator is to give his first public response to the Senate Armed Services Committee’s 11-9 vote against his nomination during an appearance on ABC’s “This Week With David Brinkley” today. Tower also is being scheduled in mid-week to speak at the National Press Club.

“Tower has never taken this to the media before. He had stayed silent because he was confident that the committee would get the facts and make the right decision,” said a longtime Tower associate and supporter.

“Now he is going to fight the committee’s decision in the media, because it (the committee) has come up with an utterly groundless decision,” the associate said.

Editorials in Home State

Ironically, the Saturday announcement of Tower’s plans coincided with a spate of editorials in his home state that called on him to withdraw his nomination to save the Bush Administration from its first major defeat.

The Dallas Times Herald wrote that, “Even if Mr. Tower were to win confirmation in the Senate, where he served for 24 years, he may have been wounded so severely by the extended investigation into his conduct that he could not function effectively as secretary of defense.”

The Ft. Worth Star-Telegram commented: “The Tower nomination has turned into a monumental mistake--Tower had more marks against him and more enemies lying in wait than anyone imagined--that should not be allowed to hobble the Administration.”

Strategy Thrashed Out

This week’s appearances by Tower are part of the Bush Administration’s high-profile strategy “to take the case to the American people,” according to White House Press Secretary Marlin Fitzwater, who sketched plans for reporters traveling in Asia with President Bush. The comeback strategy was thrashed out at a meeting Friday between Tower, Vice President Dan Quayle and Senate Minority Leader Bob Dole (R-Kan.).

After his return, set for Monday, the President is scheduled to lobby for the five needed swing votes in the Democratic-controlled Senate during a series of meetings beginning Tuesday with predominantly conservative Southern Democrats not yet committed on the issue. Among them are Sen. Lloyd Bentsen of Texas, the 1988 Democratic vice presidential candidate; Sen. Howell Heflin of Alabama, and Sen. Dennis DeConcini of Arizona.

“What the 45 Republicans in the Senate are looking for are five courageous Democratic senators to come forward. And that will make 50,” Quayle said at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference here. “And then, the first vote that I make as president of the U.S. Senate will be to vote for the confirmation of John Tower as secretary of defense.”

Senators Read Summary

A handful of Republican senators, including Sen. Pete Wilson of California, spent long hours Saturday in a lead-shielded security room on the fourth floor of the Capitol, reading--or in Wilson’s case, rereading--the still-secret summary of the FBI’s investigation into Tower’s background.

“They’re trying to get more grist for the battle,” said a staff aide in a statement that reflected the deep emotions shaping up behind the next stage of the Tower controversy, when the nomination goes before the full Senate.