Bush's convention speech focuses on leadership and character.
The Philadelphia Inquirer reports, "Giving his party a new face, new direction, and a new hope to win back the White House, George W. Bush. . .challenged the nation to harness its prosperity and 'seize the opportunities of this new century.'" USA Today reports "Bush reached for the soaring lyricism of a poet and the earthbound values of the Texas desert." The Boston Globe reports "both in his speech and in his route to the GOP nomination–each a display of the discipline that eluded him in youth and that served him in maturity–Bush showed himself to be an American original." The Baltimore Sun reports that while Bush "may not have wiped away all the doubts about whether he has the gravitas needed for the presidency, the Texas governor displayed enough self-assurance and rhetorical skill to confound his critics." He "showed the kind of touch that all political leaders seek and rarely achieve." The Washington Times reports Bush "backhanded the scandal-ridden Clinton-Gore administration last night for eight years of missed opportunities." The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports, "At its heart, the speech was a denunciation of" Clinton and Gore "as baby boomers who 'coasted through prosperity' and squandered their eight years in the White House." WTOK-TV of Meridian, Miss., reports Bush "accused the Clinton administration of having squandered great talent, to no great purpose." The New York Times reports Bush pledged "to 'confront the hard issues–threats to our national security, threats to our health and retirement security' that he said the Clinton administration had ducked." The Los Angeles Times reports that "in a swipe at both Democrats and Republicans caught up in the furious congressional battles of the last six years…Bush said he would turn his back on those quarrels." WBRZ-TV of Baton Rouge said Bush "depicts himself as a political outsider who can break Washington gridlock and confront tough issues." The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reports, "In simple language and short sentences, Bush promised a less poisonous politics and a government that reaches out to those 'left behind.' " The Boston Herald noted Bush "carefully calibrated his attacks last night, moving onto the offensive against" Gore "without being offensive." The Houston Chronicle reports Bush "denounced" Clinton "as immature and ineffective" and Gore "as a fear-monger." The Indianapolis Star News reports Bush "stood by the party's anti-abortion stance but made room for others by acknowledging that 'good people disagree on this issue.' " In its editorial, the said Bush "seemed to us to take good advantage of the opportunity," and was "straightforward about the policies he would follow." The New York Times editorialized, "Democrats should make no mistake about the themes laid down here or the stump performance of George W. Bush and even that of his running mate." They "represent a considerable danger for Mr. Gore and his party this fall."

Bush up 11 points in NBC poll.
An NBC News poll taken immediately after Bush's speech of 511 registered voters showed 47 percent said they would vote for George W. Bush while 36 percent would vote for Al Gore. The 11-point lead compares with a 6-point lead in a preconvention NBC poll. When asked on NBC's Today show this morning, "Is this a traditional convention bounce or is it a little more than you anticipated," analyst Tim Russert responded, "It is traditional. They expected about a 10-point lead. It happens to be 11." USA Today adds, "If Gore comes out of the Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles without drawing even, analysts in both parties say his task during the fall election becomes significantly harder and victory less likely. The 'window' for voters will close."

Protests wind down; police commissioner wants Justice Department probe.
The Washington Post reports, "With protests here during the Republican National Convention drawing to a peaceful close, Police Commissioner John F. Timoney called on the Justice Department to investigate groups that he said now have a track record of going from city to city inciting lawlessness."

In a symbolic slap of GOP, Clinton appoints Lee to civil rights post.
The New York Times reports President Clinton "appointed Bill Lann Lee to become the Justice Department's chief enforcer of civil rights laws, in a blunt challenge to Republicans who have criticized Mr. Lee, a Chinese-American lawyer, but who are eager to portray themselves as more welcoming to minorities." The president's move was "largely symbolic, since Mr. Lee has been at that job in an acting capacity for 2½ years." White House aides "acknowledged that the recess appointment…was partly a rebuke to the Republican Party's drive for racial inclusiveness under the leadership of its presidential nominee, Gov. George W. Bush."

Clinton orders federal agencies in California to implement energy-saving programs..
The AP reports President Clinton "directed that federal agencies and military units in California put electricity-saving programs in place to help ease the state's acute power shortage. Energy Secretary Bill Richardson said Thursday the state's power problems are a warning that the nation's electricity system must be modernized to meet growing demand and market pressures of an increasingly competitive and deregulated industry."

State Department officials want $300 million to improve security.
he New York Times reports, "Three months after Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright declared herself 'humiliated" by lax security at her department, manifested in one case by the loss of a laptop computer with classified information, officials there are seeking $300 million to upgrade its headquarters and hire 900 new employees, most of them security agents."

Gore narrows his VP list.
Vice President Al Gore told reporters yesterday, "It's down to six with one wild card." CBS News reports Gore's "short list is actually down to four 'new-generation candidates,' all senators: Evan Bayh from Indiana, Massachusetts's John Kerry, John Edwards from North Carolina, and Connecticut's Joe Lieberman." Others reported to be on the list are New Hampshire Gov. Jeanne Shaheen and Rep. Dick Gephardt. The Los Angeles Times reports, however, a Shaheen aide "insisted Thursday that if asked to join the ticket, the governor would decline." USA Today adds "Gore's list of six running-mate prospects appears to have narrowed to three Democratic senators as he prepares to announce his choice on Tuesday." Shaheen and Gephardt of Missouri "have said they don't want the job." The Washington Post reports "sources" said Shaheen and Bayh are "long shots." The Post added, "One Gore strategist said Bill Bradley may be the late entrant into the vice presidential sweepstakes, in part because the two former rivals had an amiable visit before their joint appearance in Wisconsin last month." Former top Clinton political strategist Dick Morris predicted on Fox News that Gore would pick Bayh "because he's most like Gore." Morris added, "Gore believes in the theory that he was chosen as for vice president: have a VP that's like the president, that illustrates the president, and fleshes him out. He also thinks Bayh is competent, moderate, and loyal.  . . .  And I think most of the names on his list are shills." DNC General Chairman Ed Rendell said on Fox News, "I'm not sure it's going to be Evan Bayh. . . .  I'd do [Nebraska Sen.] Bob Kerrey or Bill Bradley. … I think Al Gore should get someone who's going to push him, push him into leadership on the issues." CNN adds, "The telegenic Edwards is well liked by Gore and a favorite of some of his advisers, but given Bush's choice of the highly experienced Dick Cheney as his No. 2, some Democrats are raising concerns about Edwards's comparatively short résumé. He has been in the Senate less than two years.  . . . Sources close to the campaign say Bayh's support for a ban on 'partial-birth abortion' would raise serious problems with abortion-rights activists."

Ford's condition upgraded to fair.
CBS News reported last night former President Gerald Ford "is reported doing much better now. After visiting Ford today," George W. Bush "said the former president looked great and sounded good. Ford, who is 87, promised to be out campaigning for Bush in a couple weeks."

Egypt hears Israeli plea but balks over status of Jerusalem.
Reuters reports, "Egypt offered today to help Israel reach a peace deal with the Palestinians but said it will not put pressure on Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat to make concessions on Jerusalem." As Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak "consulted President Hosni Mubarak here in Egypt, Arafat turned up in South Africa to appeal to former President Nelson Mandela to intervene and help revive the peace process following the failed Camp David summit." The AP adds Barak "failed yesterday to get what the Israelis and the Americans believe could be key to reconvening a peace summit: an Arab initiative to soften the Palestinian stance on Jerusalem."

Taiwan leader's U.S. visit irritates Beijing.
The Washington Times reports, "A brief visit to Los Angeles later this month by Taiwan's new president has triggered a new round of squabbling between Beijing and Taipei and prompted new worries for the Clinton administration's troubled China policy." The Times adds, "The Chinese government opposes the one-day visit and has expressed its views to U.S. officials here and in Beijing, said Zhang Yuanyuan, press spokesman for the Chinese Embassy."

North Korea promises again to end missile program, for a price.
The Washington Post reports, "In a confidential exchange of letters, North Korea has reaffirmed to Russia that it will drop its intercontinental ballistic missile program if other countries will launch two or three satellites a year for Pyongyang at their expense, well-informed sources said today." The Post adds, "The threat of North Korean missile launches is one of the major reasons the United States is considering a limited national missile defense system. … If the North Korean threat is diminished--or could be abated with a relatively small investment in satellite launches--this could have a significant impact on the debate in Washington on the issue."

CBS will offer more coverage of DNC convention than RNC's show.
The New York Times reports "officials at CBS News said yesterday that they would slightly revise their coverage plans for the first night of the Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles, after television critics and their own employees complained about the way the opening night of the Republican gathering in Philadelphia was handled."

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