Historical Whispers Harry Truman's friends say this: When Mr. Truman became President, he began to be warned of Communists in key Government jobs. He could fire them and take a chance on political repercussions. Or he could shift them over to new world organizations being created and hope for the best. The second method was used, keeping the Communist issue out of the 1948 election. It is established custom in Congress that the private lives and associations of individual members of Congress are not investigated or publicly referred to by other members or by either house. With a note of irony, inflation fighters report that "Consumer News," the Government's newsletter designed to help people cope with the high cost of living, is doubling its subscription price from $2 to $4 a year. Increases in costs of printing and paper are blamed. White House praise for Donald Rumsfeld as the President's new special envoy to the Mideast was sincere, but he wasn't the first choice for the job. One of Rumsfeld's predecessors–Melvin Laird–was initially offered the post but declined. Senior White House officials were so pleased with Vice President Al Gore's performance in debating Ross Perot last week that they plan to give him a major role as a foreign-policy spokesman, especially on television. The decision not only is a sign of Gore's rising importance but suggests presidential dissatisfaction with Secretary of State Warren Christopher and the other top members of the foreign-policy apparatus. The sources concede that the team has not effectively promoted the president's international agenda. Back to Washington Whispers.