From: John King/CNN
In: Washington
Posted 10-24-97

Subject: Thompson Invites Clinton To Testify

Senate Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Fred Thompson sent President Bill Clinton a letter on Friday inviting him to testify before his Senate campaign finance investigation.

"A mutually convenient time and agreed upon ground rules can be discussed with your staff," Thompson said in his letter to the president. The White House said it had not yet received a copy of the letter but expected counsel Charles F.C. Ruff would issue a response once an official copy was received.

Earlier, White House Press Secretary Mike McCurry said Clinton did not plan to testify. "I can't imagine given the general performance of that committee in recent days that any president of the United States would attend and participate in its proceedings ... It has become a collective exercise in partisan warfare."

Thompson also sent a letter to former Sen. Bob Dole accepting his offer to testify. Thompson cited Dole's offer in his letter to the president, suggesting both 1996 candidates might agree to testify "in this spirit of resolving outstanding questions concerning 1996 campaign practices."

In Other News:

Friday Oct. 24, 1997

• Clinton Defends 'Constructive Engagement' Of China
• JFK Jr. In Cuba On Business
• Memo Indicates Oval Office Fund-Raising Call
• Clinton Withdraws Nominee For Top Veterans Post
• Administration Will Help Revive Some Vetoed Projects
• Capitol Hill Looks Ahead To Budget Surpluses
• Hillary Clinton And Oprah To Gab About Turning Fifty

E-Mail From Washington:
• Thompson Invites Clinton To Testify
• Congressional Deal-Makers Say No To Education Testing
• Dole Offers To Testify Before Thompson Committee