Heralded Perry accepts defense secretary position NATIONAL WASH IN (.TON {AF) — Filling an embarrassing gap in his national security team, (’resident Clin ton promoted the Pentagon * No. I man to defense vM.reinrv Monday He called William J Perry "a real pro," a man "you cjin depend on " The quick reaction from Congress was enthusiastic, with predictions Perry would win easy confirmation Though he is little known to the general public, sen ators dealing with military issues are familiar with him from frequent testimo ny at hearings Seemingly a reluctant warrior. Perry said he told the White House Saturday he could not say yes at that point because I did not want to drive my family into a decision — mv decision — without their support." After a talk with Vice President Al Gore and then a meeting with family members, he telephoned the White House on Sun day to say he would accept an offer if one were forthcoming "I did not have to be persuaded to take this job," Perry said. Perry, 66, is to replace outgoing Secre tary l-os Aspin, who announced his resig nation under pressure from the White House lost month Clinton's first < hoice to taka Aspin's place, Bobby Inman, with drew last week in a news conference filled with complaints about attacks from columnists and lawmakers Despite Inman's shot ker — and ( om meets from n handful of other job prospects that they were not interested — Clinton said hiring a new Pentagon chief was easy "It wasn't hard to fill." Clinton said "I asked Secretary Perry and he said, 'Yes.'" Perry, who also served in President C-artor's Pentagon, is a former engineering professor and mathematician, a key ear ly supporter of stealth technology who was later proven right Unlike Clinton, he is also an Army veteran, perhaps posi tioned to help his commander-in-chief improve relations with military leaders and wrestle with a shrinking Pentagon budget. Republican as well as Democratic, sen ators were quick to praise the nominee. "A great choice a real professional with depth of experienc e," said Sen. losuph l.iebermori. D-Conn , a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. "I have worked well with Dr Perry in the past, and he has done a good |ob." said S«n. Strom Thurmond of South Car olina, the ranking Republican on the committee. Clinton said he made the choice "based on his lifetime of accomplishments and his solid leadership at the Pentagon " "He has the right skills and manage ment experienc e for the job He has the right vision for the |ob." said Clinton, who credited Perry with being on the "cutting edge of defense issues " Clinton predicted Perry would reform Pentagon spending pro< edures. keep a tight reign on the shrinking defense bud get and maintain the nation's strong mil lion force. He said many people have told him. ' Bill Perry is real pro — you ran depend on him.” In c ontrast to Inman who said he need ed to reach a "comfort level” with Clin ton. Perry quickly endorsed his comman der-in-chief "I have a urea! respec t for the way you have been guiding national security." he told the president Perry said the end of the Cold War offers "a window of opportunity" to reform the way the Pentagon spends its money, espec ially the rules under which it purchases goods "This is a time of great change, groat challenge and great opportunity." Perry said. The soldier, scholar and entrepreneur is described as an unassuming gentleman who quietly rose to the top of the Penta gon hierarchy Aides had said the president was seek ing a "star" os his new Pentagon c.hief. a political c elebrity But pressure grew to make the choice quickly after the specta cle of Inman's withdrawal and announce ments that several prospec ts, including Sen Sam Nunn. D-Ga . said they didn't want the job. Aspm. who was eased out by Clinton, has agreed to remain aboard until his suc cessor is confirmed. He was present for the announc ement. Besides Perry's concern about his fam ily. he also said over the weekend that he wanted to make sure he* would have ade quate access to the president, said an administration official, speaking on con dition of anonymity. A poor line of com munication with the Oval Office hurt Aspin. Perry is highly regarded in the military, with a reputation for managing unwieldy bureaucracies He is credited with push ing the successful stealth aviation tech nology on Air Force offic ials who resist ed it in the 1970s. As deputy defense secretary. Perry has overseen the daily husiness of the Penta gon and traveled to Russia to promote the conversion of Russian weapons factories to non-military production. He managed to retain the respect of the military establishment while overhauling the way the Pentagon spends money on acquisition and research. Clinton, angered in the past by leaks involving personnel decisions, snapped at reporters who suggested Monday that candidates had turned him down. "The job was absolutely not offered to anyone else. Absolutely, categorically not offered to anyone else," Clinton said. Perry w'as easily confirmed last Febru ary as deputy secretary, with the only problem being a report that he participat ed in Pentagon budget discussions while still on the boards of defense companies. He denied the claim. Perry served in Carter's Defense Department, responsible for the purchase of weapons and all research and develop ment. Before his return to government early last year, he worked for a San Fran cisco investment hanking firm; a Menlo Park, Calif., consulting firm and ns a pro fessor of engineering at Stanford Univer sity. USFSA waits for facts on Harding PORTLAND. Ore (AP) — The U S Figure Skating Asso* iation wants some hard facts about l onyn Hording and the attack on her rival. Nam \ Kerrigan, Indore deciding whether she i ompetes in the Winter Olympics ‘We're waiting for law enforcement officials to get the correct information." U.S fig ure Skating Association spokes woman Kristin Malta said Sun day, And the U.S. Olympic Com mittee is waiting for trie figure skating association to act. "It's in their hock yard." spokesman Mike Moran said. A grand jury investigation resumed today. Four people have been charged with conspiring to club Kerrigan on the knee Jan. B in Detroit: Harding's ex-husband. Jeff Gillooly; her one-time body guard. Shawn Eckardt; the alleged hit man. Shane Stunt, and the alleged driver of the get away car. Derrick Smith The attack kept Kerrigan out of the national figure skating championships, which Harding went on to win. Both skaters were given spots on the Olympic team Harding hasn't been charged and denies any involvement Eckardt has accused her of help ing plan and cover up the attack. Harding today again pro claimed her innocence in a statement: “I deny all allegations that I was involved in nnv way m the Nam y Kerrigan assault." Thr Oregonian, citing uniden tified sources, reported today that authorities think they have enough evidence to arrest Hard ing. but don't want to charge her until they're sure they've got u watertight case According to the newspaper, much of the case against Hard ing is based on statements from three of the four men charged FBI spokesman Bart Gori and Norm Frink, deputy Multnomah County district attorney, declined comment today on the newspapers' report. Frink said the grand jury would take no further testimony today, and declined to say when new wit nesses would appear The grand jury has until Feb. 3 to issue its report — three days after the USFSA must name its figure skating team and nine days before the Olympics Ixtgin in I.illehammer. Norway While the skating associa tion's code of ethics allows it to remove someone for "acts, state ments or conduct ... considered detrimental to the welfare of fig ure skating.” its 4r> members are waiting for concrete informa tion. like the grund jury report, before acting. Matta said. Sunday, The Oregonian reported that Harding ap proached two men about "bumping off' her husband last summer because she suspected him of stealing her trunk Neither man is quoted direct - Iv, no police report is cited, and there is no independent evi dence supporting the allega tions There is no spei ific refer ence to an attempt to kill Cillooly, and it is not clear if Harding was serious or exactly what she wonted the men to do. "She told two men that she wanted Gillooly taken care of They weren't sure what she meant." the newspaper said in a report based on information from one of the men, who declined to be identified. “She had approached one of them before afloat being a body guard to protect her from her husband, but now she wanted them to knock Gillooly out of the picture altogether," the paper said. "They laughed it off, but they hod no doubt she was serious." Harding and Gillloly separat ed last spring, and they were divorced in August They recon ciled in September, referring to themselves as husband and wife and sharing a house until Tues day. when Harding said she was separating from Gillooly to con centrate on the Olympics. Meanwhile, the Tonya Hard ing Kan Club has began gather ing signatures on petitions urg ing the USKSA, the USOC and the International Olympic Com mittee to keep her on the Olympic team Source says Jackson will pay big settlement SANTA MONICA. Calif (AP) — Michael Jackson will pay al least $H) million to set tle a teen-age boy's sexual molestation lawsuit, a source said Monday. The settlement, expected to lx; announced Tuesday during a hearing before Superior Court Judge David Rothman, includes a eight-figure settle ment. the source told The Associated Press. An exact amount wasn't dis closed. Recent media reports have put the amount between $5 million and $50 million. Jackson's attorney Howard Weitzman wouldn't discuss the case. The boy's lawyer. Larry Feldman, also declined comment. The lawsuit claims that beginning last February Jack son supplier! the boy. then 13. with lavish gifts and vaca tions. then seduced him. Jackson, 35. has denied the allegations. His lawyers say they were the result of a failed $20 million extortion attempt by the Ixiy's father and lawyer The Los Angeles County District Attorney announced Monday that an investigation into the extortion claim was complete and no charges would be filed against boy's father or his lawyer. There are two ongoing crim inal investigations into the hov's allegations. Jackson hasn’t been charged. Prosecu tors refused to comment Mon day on the investigation. An out-of-court settlement would severely damage any criminal case because under state law, a sexual abuse vic tim can’t be forced to testify. The civil molestation trial was scheduled to begin March 21. and Jackson faced mount ing pressure to answer ques tions during pre-trial deposi tions. Jackson abandoned his "Dangerous" world concert tour in November, saying he was addicted to prescription painkillers that he started tak ing after scalp surgery to repair damage caused when his hair caught on fire while filming a Pepsi commercial. He sought treatment in Europe before returning to the United States in December. Feldman's office filed court documents Monday which said the teen-uger's divorced parents resigned as guardians over the boy's affairs Retired appellate court Justice Jack Uoertzen was designated to serve as the boy's guardian, the document said. LPG on Campus ftnu»« PuDlhMng and tekroani Senttn Call 34*^4381 Of came fey M. 3M EMI Oprn HM It 5:H NOBM)<fftfUf 342 - 3358 136 E. 11th • Eugene, OR. LIVE ENTERTAINMENT NIGHTLY DAILY SPECIALS POOL TABLES FREE DARTS ft FOOSBALL ASSORTED EATS tmokuvg preferred rt* you hungry to learn your hit m e? 11 so, local professionals will treat you to lunch on February 24 .it 12:00 anil answei any questions that you have alrout "the real world." Applications are available at 204 Johnson Hall and are due [anuaiv 2K. ( '.all S l R ( at A4<W2107 !<>i mine into •Take a Duck to Lunch* ''•»'KJ '