Lawrence's Body Exhumed From Arlington

WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, Dec. 11) -- The body of former Ambassador Larry Lawrence was exhumed from Arlington National Cemetery "early today," a Pentagon spokesman said.

Pentagon spokesman Kenneth Bacon told reporters that the movement was being handled "privately by the Lawrence family funeral home" and that he did not know any details of the matter.

The removal comes in the wake of a controversy over the waiver granted by the Pentagon to allow Lawrence to be buried at Arlington. Lawrence, who was serving as ambassador to Switzerland at the time of his death, was a contributor to the Democratic Party.

In the face of the growing controversy, Lawrence's widow, Sheila Davis Lawrence, wrote to President Bill Clinton saying that she would like to bring her husband's body home to San Diego.

House Republicans announced intentions to investigate the waiver since his Merchant Marine service, during which Lawrence was supposed to have been injured and was cited as a reason for the burial exemption, was unable to be documented.

Rep. Terry Everett (R-Ala.) said Monday that his House Veterans Affairs oversight subcommittee would look into Lawrence's background. "The subcommittee still has an interest in questions concerning the State Department's actions in the granting of waivers for Mr. Lawrence," Everett said.

In Other News:

Thursday Dec. 11, 1997

• Cisneros Indicted
• First Lady Makes Abrupt Exit From Private Club
• Reno Not Ready To Hand Over Redacted Memo
• Lawrence's Body Exhumed From Arlington
• Clinton Lobbies For Global Warming Pact
• Clinton Hails Global Warming Pact
• Arlington Controversy Continues