— PHONE: (202)636-3000 i%gxm%4-€! WASfflNGTON, D.C., SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1994 * SUBSCRIBER SERVICE:lERViCE: (202)^202) 636-3333 Clinton fires Elders as surgeon should be considered as a way to portedly accepting gifts from By Joyce Price reduce crime, her support for THE WASHINGTON TIMES businesses his agency regulates. Surgical strike in a political war teaching children how to use con Mr. Panetta said Mr. Chnton President Clinton yesterday doms and her assertion that pro- asked for Dr. Elders' resignation in underscores fired Surgeon General Joycelyn life Catholics have a "love affair a phone call he made from Miami, By Donald Lambro with the fetus." THE WASHINGTON TIMES IVrW^ the turmoil Elders for recent comments sug where he is hosting the Summit of be.'=i^tring the gesting that masturbation be The White House decision to the Americas. "If she had not te- President Clinton's firing of ANALYSIS ciuiton%d- taught to children. fire Dr. Elders, 61, comes as Mr. signed, shewould have been termi Surgeon General Joycelyn El ministration. "The president feels that's Clinton is trying to forge a more nated," the chief of staff said. ders is the latest in a series of wrong. That's not what schools are centrist political agenda after his The president issued a state carefully calculated postelec Her firing for suggesting that for and it's not what the surgeon Democratic Party lost control of ment saying, in the least diplo tion moves toward the political masturbation be taught in pub general should say," White House Congress in last month's midterm maticlanguage he has ever used in center to save his embattled lic schools follows the depar Chief of Staff Leon Panetta told elections. a personnel matter, that he forced presidency. tures of two Cabinet secretaries reporters. "There have been too In addition to Dr. Elders, the his long-time friend outof herjob. With the president's public this month, Treasury Secretary many areas in which the president Clinton administration is losing "Dr. Elders's public statements approval falling and his policies Lloyd Bentsen and Agnculture does not agree with her views. Tteasury Secretary Lloyd Bent- reflecting differences with admin coming under fire even within Secretary Mike Espy, who is be- This is just one too many." sen, who resigned this week, and istration policy and my own con Agriculture Secretary Mike Espy, Gone too far: Dr.Joycelyn his own party, yesterday's ouster Mr. Panetta noted the White victions have made it necessary of the controversial Dr. Elders see STRIKE, pageAIS House objected to Dr. Elders' who leaves office at the end of this Elders said schools should teach statement that drug legalization month under investigation for re see ELDERS, page A13 children about masturbation. Stfje P(i0ljingtouStitnco ^SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10,1994 / PAGE AI3' other positions tney descriDea as 'tortnaLiuH. being outside the mainstream of The Rev. Louis Sheldon, chair ELDERS'EXIT American thought. man of the TVaditional Values Co Her firing triggered an ava alition, said she championed a President Clinton's statement on Joycelyn Elders: for her to tender her resignation," lanche of responses, most of them "radical doctrine" designed to "Dr. Joycelyn Elders is a physician of outstanding ability, supportive of the move. Mr. Clinton said. "cause children to be sexually ac energy and commitment. As a pediatrician, she dedicated her "Those statements in no way di "It's good for the country and tive." life to improving the health of children. As Surgeon General, minish her devotion to her work good for the president that she's "The president knows what side she worked tirelessly to reduce teen pregnancy and AIDS,and and the enormous positive impact departed," said incoming House his bread is buttered on and is now to improve the health of all Americans, especially our children. she has had on the problems she Speaker Newt Gingrich, Georgia trying to move toward the center," "Dr. Elders' public statements reflecting differences with tackled and the people she Republican and a relentless El Mr Sheldon said. administration policy and my own convictions have made it served." ders critic. The surgeon general's dismissal necessary forher to tender her resignation. In a telephone interview late Cardinal James Hickey, arch came as no surprise to critics of "Those statements in no way diminish her devotion to her yesterday with the Associated bishop of Washington, said: "It is her Nov. 17 interview on ABC's work and the enormous positive impact she has had on the Press, Dr Elders defended her my hope that the dismissal of Sur "PrimeTime Live." She said then problems she tackled and the people she served. statement about masturbation, geon Genera! Elders will clear the she recognized pressure was "I will always be grateful forher service." saying, "People have taken a lot of way for leadership in publichealth mounting for her to leave but made things I've said in a most unusual that supports the values of the it clear she would not resign un Dr. Elders' note to her superior, Donna Shalala, secretary of health and human services: way." vast majority of Americans and less the president requested it. She said in a written statement, recognizes the importance of the Dr Elders went on to say, how "Ihave submitted my resignation as Surgeon General of the "I feel this halfway point is a good family to the well-beingofsociety." ever, she did not feel she should be United States to the President and he has accepted it. I feel this time for me to go." However, the NAACPexpressed asked to step down. halfway point is a good time for me to go. While some "While some administration of disappointment over the ouster of Eighty-seven Republican mem Administration officials and I have some honest differences over ficials and I have some honest dif the nation's first black surgeon bers of Congress, led by Rep. Cliff the issues, President Clinton and I maintain our strong mutual ferences overthe issues, President general. Steams of Florida, sent a letter to respect for each other—a respect and friendship that has Clinton and I maintain our strong "This is most distressing in ev the president calling for her resig endured for many years. Ilook forward to returning with my mutual respect for each other — a ery particular 1 can think of. .,. nation. But the White House said family to Arkansas. I will also enjoythe opportunity to continue respectand friendship that has en We are most disappointed at these at that time the president "re working and speaking out as a private citizen for the public dured for many years,"sheadded. events," said Earl T. Shinhoster, mained confident in Dr. Elders." health causes that are dear to me, especially my work to Until now. Dr. Elders was always NAACP senior interim adminis In September, Rep. Philip M. provide good health, a strong education, and hope for our untouchable. She had survived trator. Crane, Illinois Republican, intro bright young people." controversy after controversy — And the Rev. Joseph Lowery, duced a resolution with 44 co- first in Arkansas, where she president of the Southern Chris sponsors that called upon Dr. El Th» Washinglon Times served as state health director in tian Leadership Conference, said ders to resign. Yesterday, Mr. the administration of Gov. Clinton, Dr Elders "is among the first post Crane and Mr. Steams lauded her taken the proper step by canceling trol to limit population growth, and later as surgeon general. election casualties in the struggle firing. this doctor's office hours." said Dr. Elders "brought to Wash A pediatrician, Dr Elders be between visionary purpose and Mr. Steai-ns said Mr. Clinton "fi Sen. Nancy Landon Kassebaum, ington a welcome dose of real- world wisdom that raised the stat came the first black and first political expediency." nally got the message" that the Kansas Republican and incoming woman to serve as Arkansas Dr Elders made the comment post of surgeon general "should be chairman of the Senate Labor and ure of the office." health director when Mr. Clinton that sealed her fate on Dec. 1 in used to fight sickness and disease, Human Resources Committee, Donald Suggs, spokesman for appointed her to that post in 1987. New York City, where she took not parents and churches." called Dr. Elders' ouster "neces the New York-based Gay & Les She assumed that post after 26 part in a World AIDS Day forum at Many of those who praised Dr sary and long overdue." Mrs. Kas bian Alliance against Defamation, years on the faculty of the Univer the United Nations. Elders' ouster yesterday were sebaum voted to confirm Dr. El called her ouster a "chilling devel sity of Arkansas for Medical Sci The comment was made in re among those who vigorously op ders. opment. ... Elders had an obliga ences, where she was a professor sponse li) a question posed by a posed her confirmation as sur The surgeon general touched tion to be forthcoming on such is of pediatrics. member of the Society for the Psy geon general. She was confirmed offa firestorm in an appearance at sues. It's really chilling that she'd As statehealthdirector, she kept chological Study of Social Issues by a vote of 65-34, but only after a the National Press Club last year, lose her job for focusing on this a "condom tree" on her desk and who said he masturbates and barrage of media reports and de when she said she believed legahz- vital issue." came to be known as the "condom wanted to know if she endorsed a nunciations on the floor.