Kelso Resignation Apparently Discouraged : Military: New Navy secretary urged that top admiral be fired for ‘lack of leadership’ in Tailhook scandal. But White House is buying time.

The Clinton Administration appeared to be searching for a way to avoid removing Adm. Frank B. Kelso as chief of naval operations following a recommendation that he be fired for “lack of leadership” in the wake of the Tailhook scandal.

Defense Secretary Les Aspin met briefly with Kelso Saturday afternoon following the public disclosure of new Navy Secretary John H. Dalton’s recommendation. Aspin told the admiral that he wanted to spend the weekend reviewing the issue--effectively a request that Kelso not resign prematurely.

At the same time, both the White House and the Pentagon stressed in statements that the Administration wanted to make sure it was being “fair” to Kelso in the situation--an unusual admonition to make following a recommendation that a top military officer be fired.

It was not clear if the Administration would be able to keep Kelso in the job. Officials close to the admiral said Kelso had indicated he did not plan to resign unless directly asked to do so by Aspin.

But analysts said Kelso’s authority as the Navy’s top admiral clearly had been damaged by the disclosure late Friday of Dalton’s recommendation and speculated that he may be forced to step down anyway, barring some last-minute statement of confidence by Aspin.

The flurry of activity reflected a deeply held view, both within the White House and the Pentagon, that Kelso has done a good job in responding to the Tailhook scandal, despite Dalton’s allegation that the admiral had not exercised sufficient leadership in the affair.

Kelso acted within weeks after news of the Tailhook scandal broke in late 1991, moving aggressively to crack down on sexual harassment within the Navy and to open more career opportunities to women. And he has instituted new programs to alter attitudes on women in the service.

Officials familiar with the debate over Kelso’s future said that Aspin aides had tried to warn Dalton about Aspin’s view of Kelso’s performance, in hopes of persuading him not to recommend the admiral’s dismissal.

Kelso has never been charged with any wrongdoing in the Tailhook scandal, which sprang from a September, 1991 convention of naval aviators at a Las Vegas hotel during which scores of women were assaulted. Some 117 officers were implicated later, and three admirals were removed from their posts.

Officials said Kelso made a speech before the Tailhook Assn. but did not actually see any of the wild partying that later went on. Dalton’s recommendation was based on Navy tradition, under which the senior-most officer is held accountable for any wrongdoing by subordinates.

But knowledgeable officials suggested that Dalton may have interpreted the practice too narrowly and said the prospect of relieving Kelso had been rejected by former Defense Secretary Dick Cheney.

Kelso has formally acknowledged ultimate--although indirect--responsibility for the Tailhook incident but indicated that he wanted to stay on to help “correct” the problems in the service that may have contributed to it. He has been chief of naval operations since June, 1990.

Aspin and his staff were expected to spend the remainder of the weekend seeking ways to limit the damage to Kelso enough to enable him to continue in the job. But that may be difficult.

Rejecting the recommendation entirely would injure Dalton’s effectiveness. And policy-makers are wary that if they ignore the recommendation they might appear to be making light of the Tailhook scandal, which has rocked the Navy internally and has taken on wide political ramifications, particularly among women voters.

Indications on Saturday were that no formal action was likely until later this week and that Clinton almost certainly would become involved in any decision concerning Kelso’s status. Both Aspin and Kelso declined to speak with reporters Saturday.

Still, it was clear that the Administration was straining to avoid having to remove Kelso from the job. The admiral, a 60-year-old former submarine officer who has spent 37 years in the Navy, is scheduled to retire in July, when his term as chief of naval operations expires.

Officials said that besides Kelso, Dalton also has recommended disciplining eight other admirals and Marine Corps generals in connection with the Tailhook scandal--although in some cases this involves letters of reprimand rather than dismissal.