Nation IN BRIEF : WASHINGTON, D.C. : Clinton to Continue Backing Halperin

President Clinton will return the nomination of Morton Halperin to the Senate, defying conservatives’ efforts to block him from a senior Pentagon job, a White House official said. “The President believes he should have the job,” communications director Mark Gearan said. Conservative Senate Republicans had complained that Halperin was too liberal to be assistant secretary of defense for democracy and peacekeeping. Halperin said allegations about his beliefs and activities were false. The Senate sent the nomination back to the White House.