The Journal News from White Plains, New York • Page 1

ODAY: On to the finals Building a dream Female architect's Davenport ousts Venus Williams, feces Hingis in title match, 1 blueprint for success, Flair i lottos 'k SATURDAY, September 12, For the first time, Clinton asks Lewinsky for forgiveness, 1 S3 1998 1998 Gannett Suburban NewspapersServing Rockland County since 1889 A look at the starstruck girl who thought Clinton might marry her, 1 Despite report, some discount prospect of impeachment, 3D Excerpts from Starr's report to the House, 40, 5B wrkJ LJ fc-1 VkJ Li XZ V-y mm leachable (Menses 1 I i i "a f'f 1 tad or just A'-' A lehavior? A comparison of what the Starr report and the White House say about key allegations in the Monica Lewinsky investigation The Associated Press President Clinton looks at his notes during a solemn apology yesterday at the annual White House prayer breakfast. The Associated Press Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr departs from his home yesterday morning prior to the release of his report to Congress President's lawyers rebut 'salacious' Starr report The Washington Post WASHINGTON In a sharply worded, defiant response to independent counsel Kenneth W. Starr's allegations, President Clinton declared yesterday that his relationship with Monica Lewinsky was a personal matter that does not rise to the level of an impeachable offense. The president's lawyers emphasized in their preliminary defense that while Clinton's behavior amounted to an embarrassing, personal failure, it did not involve his conduct in office or break the public trust. "No amount of gratuitous details about the President's relationship with Ms.

Lewinsky, no matter how salacious, can alter the fact that: The President did-not commit perjury. The President did not obstruct justice. The President did not tamper with witnesses. The President did not abuse the power of his office," according to the document. It also questioned whether Starr acted properly when he expanded his investigation from an Arkansas land deal into Clinton's relationship with the former White House intern.

The 73-page rebuttal represented the most thorough laying-out of Clinton's legal strategy as he attempts to defend himself from charges that could end his presidency. Clinton's lawyers hastily prepared the report to answer the sudden and dramatic release of Starr's report to millions of Please see CLINTON, 5 A Whether President Clinton lied under oath Starr: Clinton "lied under oath" both during his Aug. 17 grand jury testimony and during his Jan. 17 sworn testimony in the Paula Jones sexual harassment lawsuit when Clinton denied that he'd had sexual relations with Lewinsky. The President testified that he believed oral sex was not covered by any of the terms and definitions for sexual activity used at the Jones deposition.

That testimony Is not credible." Clinton: The president was asked if he'd had sexual relations and understood the question to mean sexual intercourse, which he denies having had with Lewinsky. The White House said, "The president was not asked any specific questions at all about his physical contact with Ms. Lewinsky, and in particular, he was not pointedly asked whether he had engaged in any of the conduct outside the definition (of sexual relations) provided" by the court. thwart Starr's investigation Starr: The president has pursued a strategy of deceiving the American people and Congress since January 1 998, delaying and impeding the criminal investigation for seven months and deceiving the American people and Congress in August 1998." One example is that Clinton gave inaccurate versions of the Lewinsky matter to aides, "knowing they would repeat those lies before a grand jury." Clinton: There was no witness tampering." Says the White House engaged in "open and lawful" efforts to help staff obtain lawyers, to speak with witnesses and their lawyers and to provide advice on the ramifications of the Investigation. There is no 'talking points' smoking gun Ms.

Lewinsky has apparently admitted the talking points were written by her alone. sex with Lewinsky 50 cents Clinton strategy: express sorrow, and hit hard, 6B Report alleges Clinton betrayed duties of presidency The Washington Post WASHINGTON President Clinton betrayed his "constitutional duty to faithfully execute the laws" by engaging in a pattern of "abundant and calculating" lies regarding his relationship with Monica Lewinsky, prosecutors charged in an impeachment report overflowing with graphic accounts of sexual escapades in the Oval Office suite. The extraordinary 453-page document prepared by independent counsel Kenneth Starr and made public yesterday by Congress accused Clinton of becoming sexually involved with "a young subordinate employee," then orchestrating a cover-up campaign using aides, friends and the resources of the White House. In all, it listed 11 possible grounds for impeachment, including perjury, witness tampering, obstruction of justice and abuse of power. "In view of the enormous trust and responsibility attendant to his high Office, the President has a manifest duty to ensure that his conduct at all times complies with the law of the land," Starr wrote in the report.

Perjury and obstruction "are profoundly serious matters. When such acts are committed by the President of the United States, we believe those acts may constitute grounds for an impeachment." Clinton has publicly admitted an "inappropriate" relationship Please see STARR, 5A Analysis actly the president did with the former intern and others caught up in the case; whether his effort to conceal their relationship amounted to obstruction of justice and perjury; and most fundamentally whether or not Clinton committed crimes, and whether his actions were so seri- PZeose see ANALYSIS, 5A lished in 12 editions under 10 different names. Sherlock said an important difference will be later deadlines to give the most complete sports report in Rockland. "Readers will see an immediate increase in timely local news coverage, that's next-day coverage of evening municipal and civic meetings, and local and pro sports events played at night." The newspaper's World Wide Web site would also be updated and renamed to correspond to The Journal News. Gannett Suburban Newspapers are owned by Arlington, Va-based Gannett Co.

a national news and information company that publishes 84 daily newspapers, including USA Today and USA Weekend. The company also operates 21 television stations and cable systems in five states. JUIMJU Starr: FBI tests almost indisputably determined that semen found on one of Lewinsky's dresses came from Clinton. The report states that the President contended that the intimate contact did not begin until 1996. Lewinsky has testified that it began November 15, 1995.

Clinton: Acknowledges an "inappropriate relationship" with Lewinsky. "In the face of the president's admission of his relationship, the disclosure of lurid and salacious allegations can only be intended to humiliate the president and force him from office," the White House says. Whether Clinton gave to Lewinsky giving and receiving gifts from He did not ever suggest that and he did not ever ask or from Ms. Lewinsky." Whether Clinton tried to Whether Clinton had asked Lewinsky or Betty Clinton tried to influence Currie to the Oval Office the day 7h This process, election, mob, this is test." Starr: Says Clinton "attempted to obstruct justice by facilitating a witness' plan to refuse to comply with a subpoena," referring to the subpoena issued to Lewinsky to return any gifts given to her by Clinton. Currie to retrieve gifts he Clinton: The president admitted Ms.

Lewinsky when asked about it. gifts from him should be disposed of, instruct Ms. Currie to pick up the gifts Lewinsky's or Cuttle's Report and rebuttal contrast sharply testimony Whether Starr: Says Clinton summoned Clinton: Says there was no witness tampering, and noted that Currie was not, at the time, scheduled to be a witness in the Paula Jones case. after his testimony in the Paula Jones case in order to try to influence Currie as a potential witness. "I pledge that the very same courtesy that was extended to Mr.

Nixon will be extended to this president no less and no more." Rep. Henry Hyde, R-lll. is a sacred not a second not a lynch not a witch hunt a constitutional Rep. Dick Gephardt, D-Mo. NT The president did not commit perjury, he did not obstruct Justice, he did not tamper with witnesses, and he did not abuse the power ol his office." David Kendall, the president's private lawyer Coming soon, a new Journal News New City man, 30, found shot to death in car in Spring Valley WEATHER Chance of showers Partly sunny with the chance of an afternoon shower or thun-dershower; high 84.

Scattered showers and thunderstorms tonight; low 63. 2B INDEX By Ruth Marcus The Washington Post WASHINGTON As they consider the allegations against President Clinton in the coming weeks and months, members of Congress will have to navigate between two sharply conflicting views of the facts, the law and the proper standards for impeaching a president. Independent counsel Kenneth W. Starr's report to Congress, and the 73-page rebuttal released by Clinton's lawyers, present stark contrasts on every front: what ex- Suburban Newspapers, said while addressing the newspapers' employees yesterday. Also announced yesterday were plans to launch a new newspaper in Westchester and Putnam counties.

That paper will also carry the name The Journal News. "The publication of a new newspaper under a unified brand follows nearly three years of intensive market study and research," Sherlock said. Besides a unified name, The Journal News will provide later news, a continuing emphasis on local news, sports and business coverage and a new look in tune with the sophistication of the northern suburbs of New York City. Delivery will be guaranteed by 6 a.m. every day in every corner of the three counties.

In Westchester and Putnam, the new newspaper will be published in three editions. The newspapers currently are pub Staff report Plans to redesign the Rockland Journal-News and return the paper to its original name of The Journal News were announced yesterday by Gannett Suburban Newspapers. The improvements, scheduled to be unveiled later this fall, will include a separate section dedicated to Rockland news. The paper will undergo a complete redesign, which will include freestanding daily "Business" and classified advertising sections. "Business" will include more space for Rockland news and an expanded investment markets report.

"We are very excited about this possibility because we believe we can build The Journal News to be the most comprehensive and most locally focused newspaper ever available in this market," Gary F. Sherlock, president and publisher of Gannett Four news sections Ann Landers 24C Horoscope 24C Births 4A Movies 24C Business 9B Obituaries 7A 'Comics 25C Opinion 6A Crossroads 4A Our Schools 4A Fire Calls 8A Police 8A Flair 1C Sports 1P Gutwillig 2A Television 22C Action Classified IE By Steve Ueberman Staff Writer SPRING VALLEY A 30-year-old New City man was found dead in his car on Rose Avenue yesterday morning with several bullet wounds to the head. Police identified the victim as Gerold Berger the fourth person slain this year in Spring Valley and the county. Officers found Berger slumped over the car's steering wheel and bleeding from three bullet wounds to his head, Detective Lt. Ronnie Eckler said.

"We're leaning toward this shooting as drug-related," Eckler said. "He was shot where he was found in his car." Berger was found leaning face first across the steering wheel of a gray 1991 Thunderbird in the parking lot of an apartment building at 23 Rose a block up from Bethune Boulevard in the village's Hill section. A resident found the body and called police at 7:20 a.m., Eckler said. Berger was pronounced dead at the scene at 7:32 a.m. by Ramapo paramedics and the county Medical Examiner's Office.

Medical Examiner Dr. Frederick Zugibe said last night that three bullets were found in Berger's skull, and had severed his spinal cord and destroyed Please see MURDER, 2A Let us know what you think. To reach us, see staff listing on Page 4A. JN.