DOLE STRESSES WAR RECORD IN EMERGING CAMPAIGN THEME.Byline: Katharine Q. Seelye This article is about the reporter for The New York Times. For the NPR reporter, see Kate Seelye. Katharine Q. Seelye is a political reporter for The New York Times. The New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of Times His right arm limp from a war injury, Bob Dole on Sunday saluted with his left as he praised American veterans at a Memorial Day ceremony as ``the best darn kids in the world.'' The quotation belonged to Gen. George Marshall, who, when asked during World War II if the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. had a secret weapon against the enemy, is said to have replied, ``Yes. Our secret weapons are the best darn kids in the world.'' But here, the day belonged to Dole, the presumptive pre·sump·tive adj. 1. Providing a reasonable basis for belief or acceptance. 2. Founded on probability or presumption. pre·sump Republican presidential nominee, whose campaign hopes to turn his World War II combat service and resultant disability into a major theme to employ against President Clinton, who avoided the Vietnam War Vietnam War, conflict in Southeast Asia, primarily fought in South Vietnam between government forces aided by the United States and guerrilla forces aided by North Vietnam. , in the struggle for the White House. ``I can't change his record, and he can't change my record,'' Dole told reporters after speaking to about 500 people at a ceremony in Clifton, N.J. ``These are facts. I'm proud to have served my country.'' At the same time, President Clinton laid a wreath in Arlington National Cemetery Arlington National Cemetery, 420 acres (170 hectares), N Va., across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C.; est. 1864. More than 60,000 American war dead, as well as notables including Presidents William Howard Taft and John F. Kennedy, Gen. John J. in a subdued ceremony in which he asked Americans to set aside their differences. ``Today is a time to remember what joins us as one America,'' the president said under drizzly skies, recalling that the practice of honoring the nation's war dead had been prompted by each side's great losses in the Civil War. The holiday honoring those who have fought the nation's wars comes as a Republican television commercial ridicules Clinton for avoiding military service. It criticizes what it describes as the president's suggestion in a Supreme Court appeal that as commander in chief, he might be entitled to delay a sexual harassment sexual harassment, in law, verbal or physical behavior of a sexual nature, aimed at a particular person or group of people, especially in the workplace or in academic or other institutional settings, that is actionable, as in tort or under equal-opportunity statutes. suit under a law that protects service members on active duty from litigation An action brought in court to enforce a particular right. The act or process of bringing a lawsuit in and of itself; a judicial contest; any dispute. When a person begins a civil lawsuit, the person enters into a process called litigation. . But Clinton's lawyer, Robert Bennett, has said that the commercial misinterprets the brief filed on behalf of the president. Bennett has said the brief cites the Soldiers and Sailors Relief Act to show that it is not unusual to delay civil suits. The president's argument was attacked on Monday in a full-page advertisement by five winners of the Medal of Honor Medal of Honor highest American military decoration for wartime gallantry. [Am. Hist.: Misc.] See : Bravery . ``To retreat from the call to arms and then later embrace its code when it is convenient is an outrage to all who served,'' they wrote in the ad, in The Washington Times. While many here seemed unaware of the anti-Clinton commercial, many were veterans who seemed to side with Dole. ``Beat the draft dodger '' a man who appeared to be in his early 30s yelled to Dole as Dole and Gov. Christie Whitman joined a parade through Clifton. ``I'm an American,'' the man told a reporter, refusing to give his name. Several signs along the parade route made the same point. ``Bob Dole - A Man of Honor,'' read one. ``Bob Dole - Make Us Proud Again,'' read another. Dole did not mention Clinton in his speech, but the contrast between the two candidates was implicit. ``Today is the day we remember and honor all the American kids who gave their lives and their limbs and their time for their country,'' Dole said. ``The sacrifice is worth it.'' |
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