RECORD TYPE: PRESIDENTIAL  (TRP NOTES MAIL)

CREATOR: Ron Klain ( CN=Ron Klain/O=OVP [ OVP ] )

CREATION DATE/TIME:12-NOV-1997 11:31:47.00

SUBJECT:  Re: Updates

TO: Albert Gore ( CN=Albert Gore/O=OVP @ OVP [ OVP ] )
READ:UNKNOWN

TEXT:
I don't know about Brown being a "supporter;" he certainly has been 

friendly enough to you and our operation in the past.  



There is no underestimating the extent to which the President's comments 

about "no brainer" and "secret ballot" really fried the folks up there.  

First, it questioned the sincerity of their views;  thus, it leads the 

Dems to respond more vigorously in defending how important opposing Fast 

Track really was.  This produced some of the more highly charged 

comments.  Second, the President's remarks "outs" some of the Dems as 

wholly-owned subsidiaries of organized labor -- that may be no big deal 

for some Congressmen (e.g., Bonior, Maxine Waters, etc.)  but in 

district's like Brown's and Pascrell's, that is not a great place for them 

to be.  That is, the irony here is that these Congressmen -- who are in 

fact dependent on labor money -- don't want to be seen as such -- and 

certainly not labelled as such by the President.  



I actually do not think that that many of your relationships were hurt by 

this -- and I have had a number of conversations to this effect.  That 

does not mean that this had zero impact -- of course, we will need to do 

some repair work.  (And that repair work will be accelerated if we can 

come to closure on the issue of fast track, as my lunch memo suggests).  



Of course, I still think that this was a stupid and needless fight, which 

you urged the President to avoid -- advice he rejected.  But there are 

three good things we can milk out of it:  (1) an end to the elite 

columnist buzzing that you had gone into the "tank" for the party left to 

tie down the Democratic nomination; (2) a quick response when you are 

asked the Walter Mondale question (Name five things you disagree with 

labor on) during the 2000 campaign; and (3) a powerful anecdote when asked 

if you are willing to support the President on his agenda even if that 

agenda is not always the best politics for you.