Hard Test for New Speaker

Congressional leaders and the White House agree that it’s time to consign the impeachment controversy to history and take up the legislative issues Americans are most interested in, especially shoring up Social Security and Medicare and trying to improve the nation’s schools. But a consensus that these matters should be on everyone’s agenda doesn’t assure that they will become effective legislation. That requires a readiness for pragmatic give and take, something that has been too little in evidence in Washington lately. Nowhere is that more so than in the deeply partisan House. Dennis J. Hastert (R-Ill.), the new speaker, is about to find his reputation as a conciliator put to its toughest test.

Republican intransigents who believe the ‘Senate denied them the chance to fully prosecute their impeachment case have signaled they are in no mood to support any legislative program that might be used by President Clinton to try to redeem himself from shame and dishonor. Democrats who are convinced that the House majority went far beyond the intent of the Constitution by elevating character failings into major felonies remain in an unforgiving mood. “There’s a lot of bitterness over here among Democrats,” says Henry A. Waxman (D-Los Angeles), and “it’s going to linger on a lot of issues we’ll have to deal with.” None of this augurs well for getting on with the priority issues on the national agenda.

The nation’s governors, meeting in Washington, have in so many words called on all sides to grow up, put aside toxic partisanship and restore political debate to the high level that Congress--if not necessarily the current Congress--has often been able to achieve. Whether that advice will be listened to or scorned may depend on how firm a hand is exerted on Congress by the leaders of the two parties, and how ready Clinton is to make good on his promise to work with the same Republicans who have tried their utmost to destroy him.

Hastert has the toughest job, because any hope for progress requires that he keep under control the most zealous and unforgiving Clinton-haters in his party. The best thing he has going for him is a temperament notably different from that of the departed Newt Gingrich, who delighted in fueling acrimony. Hastert’s forte is accommodation. Listening to the mutterings of partisans on both sides, it’s clear he has his work cut out for him.