Crucial Day for Clinton

There is always a breathless moment when the president of the United States is announced at the door of the House of Representatives. Then the chief executive strides into the chamber to deliver his State of the Union address to a waiting joint session of Congress. It is a moment of high ceremony, usually charged with anticipation of the president’s program for the coming year.

Tonight, there will be extraordinary curiosity throughout a nation waiting to see how Bill Clinton handles his 1998 State of the Union address amid the swirl of sex scandal. Will he be awkward or hesitant? Or will he seem confident and in command? Will Hillary Rodham Clinton continue to support him?

More than ever, Clinton needs to project the image of an engaged, vigorous chief executive who is capable of leading the nation without being unduly distracted by the investigation into his personal conduct. At the same time, he must take the investigation seriously, for it is very serious indeed.

As Americans watch and listen, they should remember a few basic facts. Bill Clinton is the nation’s chief executive, with all the constitutional powers of the office and the responsibilities. To date, there has been no formal legal action against him in regard to Monica S. Lewinsky, with whom Clinton on Monday emphatically denied having sexual relations.

Washington is rife with speculation about a possible presidential resignation or perhaps even impeachment. But at this point it is just talk generated by unsubstantiated allegations. The facts have yet to come out on whether Clinton encouraged Lewinsky to commit perjury in a sworn statement when she was questioned about their alleged relationship.

We had hoped that Clinton would quickly give his side of the story, in detail. But his lawyers have taken charge of the case and will pursue his defense in their own fashion. That may take weeks or months. In the meantime, the president must do his best to persuade the American people that he can effectively manage the government. Clinton must be open and candid with the people and Congress on issues of importance to the country.

In the matter of Iraq especially he must not shrink from taking justified action to enforce the United Nations’ mandate for weapons inspections. If military action is necessary, the president must debunk the idea that it is a mere device to divert attention from his troubles at home.

Make no mistake, Clinton appears to be in a heap of trouble. If there is credible evidence that he lied about a sexual affair, or sought to cover it up in a legal sense, his presidency will indeed be jeopardized.

There is no question that Clinton’s reserves of trust and goodwill are desperately thin. He has gone to the well too often in times of troubles. The president needs to rebuild his credibility as best he can through his performance as chief executive. That job begins tonight in the Capitol.