His face quivering with anger, House Speaker Jim Wright vowed Thursday that he will ”fight to the last ounce of conviction and energy” to rescue his political reputation and refute accusations that he violated congressional rules.
”I am 66 years of age-66 years of living and giving; striving and sometimes failing, and sometimes succeeding; treating my fellow man with decency, and dignity and respect-I believe have earned me a reputation as a person of decency, and as a person of honor, and as a person of integrity,”
the Texas Democrat said.
Flanked by his party`s leadership and dozens of other congressional supporters, including many from Texas, Wright attempted to deliver a point-by- point rebuttal to allegations that he improperly took gifts from a friend and business associate who had an interest in federal legislation that Wright influenced.
The speaker strayed into an emotional defense of his 34 years in Congress in an ornate room just off the House floor, which was packed with reporters, congressional aides and Wright`s colleagues.
He flatly denied that a car given to his wife, Betty, the free use of a Ft. Worth condominium and his wife`s $18,000 annual salary amounted to gifts from George Mallick, the business partner who allegedly had an interest in federal legislation that Wright influenced.
At one point, Wright`s voice cracked as he discussed the charges involving his wife. ”I must say that I find that personally offensive,” he said, his face flushed with anger. ”I want to say to you that my wife is a good, decent, caring, honorable person. I`ll damned well fight to protect her honor and her integrity against any challenge by any source, whatever the costs.”
As the Democratic colleagues whom he asked to attend applauded his remarks, the speaker quickly regained his composure and called upon the House ethics committee to move quickly with its investigation. He requested that he be allowed to appear before it even before it finishes its deliberations on a report by Chicago attorney Richard Phelan, the committee`s special counsel in the case.
Technically, since the 12-member ethics committee has not released Phelan`s report, Wright has not yet been publicly charged with violations of congressional rules. But sources familiar with the investigation say a bipartisan majority already has voted to recommend charges against the speaker. The committee now is trying to decide how much of Phelan`s 456-page report to make public. Publication is expected soon, possibly next week.
”Whether I`m speaker of the House, which is the greatest honor I`ve ever had, is not important,” Wright said. ”What is important is that Congress moves swiftly . . . to get distractive matters such as this behind us.”
Wright vowed he would defend his honor and reputation at all costs.
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”I believe I have earned a reputation as a person of decency, and a person of honor and a person of integrity,” he said. ”I know that my wife deserves to be known in that way, and that, to me, is the most important thing-my good name, which is the legacy I intend to leave my children and grandchildren.”
Although Wright declined to answer questions about the problems he faces, the mood among Democrats on Capitol Hill was somber. The charges could be fatal to Wright`s career as speaker and thrust the Democratic leadership into an embarrassing scandal. No speaker in Congress` 200-year history has ever been formally charged with an ethics violation.
Reaction among Democrats to Wright`s remarks was sympathetic but restrained. Several of those who flanked him said a careful reading of House rules would allow his activities.
”I assume Jimmy Wright didn`t do anything wrong,” said Rep. Dan Rostenkowski (D., Ill.), once his rival for a role in the House Democratic leadership. ”From what he`s told me, if that`s it, I`m going to support him.”
Several of the Democrats who appeared with Wright tried to turn the questions about his wife`s job into a test of whether congressional spouses can work.
”I resent someone implying that my spouse is an appendage of me,” said Rep. Bill Gray (D., Pa.). ”Based on the information I have, I don`t understand how you can take a spouse and say their income was a gift.”
Gray and many other members of Congress, questioned about Wright after his appearance, used nearly the same words to say-based on what they know now about the case-that it appears he did nothing wrong. But most said they wanted to read the full committee report before making a final judgment.
Republicans were even more restrained. Indeed, Minority Whip Newt Ginrich, the Georgia Republican who originally filed the ethics complaint against Wright, canceled a news conference he had scheduled on the speaker`s remarks.
Among other things, sources say, the ethics commiteee voted to charge that Wright evaded congressional limits on outside earnings by disguising speaking fees from lobbyists as royalties from sales of his book,
”Reflections of a Public Man.” There are limits on the amount of money a member of Congress can earn from speaking fees but no limits on book royalties.
The committee also voted, sources say, to charge that Wright accepted gifts valued at more than $100,000 from Mallick, a real estate developer with an interest in bills addressing the savings and loan crisis, in which Wright played a key role.
The alleged gifts included the $18,000 annual salary paid to Wright`s wife for no services; use of a free condominium in Ft. Worth; use of a 1979 Cadillac Seville, and a cut-rate on a condominium for Wright and his wife.
The ethics committee continued to meet throughout the day. Its members did not plan not to meet Friday and said they would resume Monday.
Three House members circulated a letter asking the committee to release only the parts of the Phelan report addressing charges that the committee decides to proceed with, not those that were discarded.
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON STANDARDS OF OFFICIAL CONDUCT
Democrats:
Julian C. Dixon, California, Chairman.
– In his 6th term representing part of Los Angeles.
– 3rd term as chairman of Ethics Committee.
– Also on Appropriations Committee.
Vic Fazio
– In his 6th term representing the Sacramento area.
– Also on Appropriations Committee.
Bernard J. Dwyer, New Jersey
– In his 5th term representing Edison, Perth Amboy and surrounding areas.
– Also on Appropriations, Select Intelligence and Budget Committee.
Alan B. Mollohan, West Virginia
– In his 4th term representing the Northern Panhandle.
– Also on Appropriations Committee.
Joseph M. Gaydos, Pennsylvania
– In his 11th term representing the area just east of Pittsburgh.
– Also on House Administration and Education and Labor Committees.
Chester G. Atkins, Massachusetts
– In his 3d term representing Lowell, Lawrence and the surrounding areas.
– Also on Appropriations Committee.
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Republicans:
John T. Myers, Indiana
– In his 12th term representing west central Indiana, including Terre Haute.
– Also on Appropriations and Post Office and Civil Service Committees.
James V. Hansen
– In his 5th term representing the western half of Utah.
– Also on Armed Services and Interior and Insular Affairs Committees.
Charles Pashayan Jr., California
– In his 6th term representing the southern part of the Central Valley.
– Also on rules Committee.
Thomas E. Petri, Wisconsin
– In his 6th term representing central Wisconsin.
– Also on Education and Labor and Public Works and Transportation Committee.
Larry E. Craig, Idaho
– In his 5th term representing the western half of Idaho.
– Also on Interior and Insular Affairs and Government Operations Committee.
Hank Brown, Colorado
– In his 5th term representing the eastern third of Colorado.
– Also on Ways and Means Committee.
baiduhai Graphic.