What happened on December 08, 1991

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NEWS

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CALIFORNIA | LOCAL

OPINION

THE POLITICAL RORSCHACH TEST : What Americans think about the Kennedy assissination reveals what they think about their government By Jefferson Morley, \o7 Jefferson Morley is a former associate editor of the New Republic and former Washington editor of the Nation\f7
Don't Cry for Soviet 'Center'--It Was Dead, Anyway : Ukraine: Its independence vote should show that economic integration need not go hand-in-hand with political union. Listen up, Gorbachev. By Steven Merritt Miner, \o7 Steven Merritt Miner, an associate professor of history at Ohio University, is the author of "Between Churchill and Stalin: The USSR, Great Britain and the Origins of the Grand Alliance" (University of North Carolina Press)\f7
The Fluke That Became a Nightmare : Hostages: Co-opting the opponent was more effective in winning the release of American captives than either confrontation or concessions. By Robin Wright, \o7 Robin Wright, national-security correspondent for The Times, is author of "In the Name of God: The Khomeini Decade" (Simon & Schuster)\f7
Bush Throws Sununu Over the Side--But Will It Help? : Politics: Instead of helping things along, one of the main purposes of the job, the now-former chief of staff had been gumming up the works. By Hendrik Hertzberg, \o7 Hendrik Hertzberg, a senior editor on the New Republic, served on Jimmy Carter's White House staff\f7
De Klerk, Not Mandela, Has the Edge as South Africa's Most Dynamic Politician : ANC: As the post-apartheid era nears, the African National Congress is having great difficulty transforming itself into a political party. By Jeffrey Herbst, \o7 Jeffrey Herbst is an assistant professor of politics and international affairs at the Woodrow Wilson School of Princeton University\f7
Margaret Chase Smith : The Nation's First Women Senator Reflects Back Over a Capitol Life By Stanley L. Meisler, \o7 Stanley Meisler is a reporter in The Times Washington bureau. He interviewed Margaret Chase Smith at her home\f7
BOOK MARK : The Scandal That Challenges the Legitimacy of Our Political Order By Gary Sick, \o7 Gary Sick, adjunct professor of Middle East politics at Columbia University, served on the National Security Council staff under Presidents Gerald R. Ford, Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan. While acknowledging that some of his sources have "a propensity for exaggeration and trouble," the author contends that there is strong reason to believe that Reagan-Bush campaign officials made a secret deal in 1980 to delay the release of the 52 Americans held hostage in Tehran\f7
Stop the Politics, Let's Get Scientific
PERSPECTIVE ON CHILDREN : America Has Orphaned Its Young : Our schools can't cope alone with children who lack the basics of love and security; our social structure must change. By James Bates and Ernest L. Boyer, \o7 Ernest L. Boyer is president of the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. Copies of the foundation report, "Ready to Learn: A Mandate for the Nation," are available for $8 after Jan. 1 from Princeton University Press, 3175 Princeton Pike, Lawrenceville, N.J. 08648. Telephone (609) 896-1344. The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, in a report issued today, calls for new steps to ensure learning readiness for all of the nation's children by the year 2000. Following is an excerpt from the introduction to the report\f7
COLUMN LEFT/ GARY E. RUBIN : What 'Haven' Can Be Behind Barbed Wire? : U.S. law allows Haitians refuge here; keeping them offshore is cruel and unnecessarily costly. By Gary E. Rubin, \o7 Gary E. Rubin is director of national affairs for the American Jewish Committee\f7
Why Republicans May Rue Their Heartfelt Support for Term Limits : Reapportionment: The plan of the court-appointed panel, in seeking to be apolitical, may end up making a political revolution. By Sherry Bebitch Jeffe, \o7 Sherry Bebitch Jeffe is a senior associate at the Center for Politics and Policy at Claremont Graduate School\f7
PLATFORM : Sword of Oppression By Thomas F. Coleman, \o7 THOMAS F. COLEMAN is executive director of the Family Diversity Project, a Los Angeles-based nonprofit research group that promotes respect for human differences. Commenting on a state appeals court ruling that the religious rights of a Downey couple would be violated if they were compelled to rent to an unmarried couple, he told The Times:\f7
Smarter Intelligence in a Disorderly World : Gates looks to reorient a CIA that's still fighting old fights
Clearing the Way for Growth : Wilson's support of timber-management bill will save forests--and timber companies

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What happened on December 08, 1991

BOOKS

The Celluloid Closet : GEORGE CUKOR: A Double Life, \o7 By Patrick McGilligan (St. Martin's Press: $22.95; 400 pp.)\f7 By Gregg Kilday, \o7 Kilday, a senior writer at Entertainment Weekly, is writing a history of Hollywood's gay film-makers for Farrar, Straus & Giroux\f7

The Wild One : BLOODY SAM: The Life and Films of Sam Peckinpah, \o7 By Marshall Fine (Donald I. Fine: $24.95; 417 pp., illustrated)\f7 By Grover Lewis, \o7 Lewis, a Santa Monica-based journalist, is the author of "Academy All the Way," a collection of Hollywood reportage\f7

A Matter of Life and Death : THE LATE NIGHT MUSE, \o7 By Bette Pesetsky (Harper/Collins: $19.95; 272 pp.)\f7 By Beverly Lowry, \o7 Lowry is a novelist currently living in Los Angeles. Her latest book, "Crossed Over," will be published in spring, 1992, by Alfred A. Knopf\f7

An Eye for Warts : WILDERNESS TIPS, \o7 By Margaret Atwood (Doubleday/Nan A. Talese: $20; 247 pp.)\f7 By Richard Eder

Fiction By Sharon Dirlam

Fiction By Sharon Dirlam

Nonfiction By Karen Stabiner

Nonfiction By Karen Stabiner

Nonfiction By Karen Stabiner

Nonfiction By Karen Stabiner

Fiction By Karen Stabiner

Fiction By Karen Stabiner

Hanky Panky on the Potomac : HAPPY ENDINGS, \o7 By Sally Quinn (Simon & Schuster: $22; 566 pp.)\f7 By Patt Morrison, \o7 Morrison is a Times staff writer\f7

A Nationl Cinema Without a Nation : BRIDGE OF LIGHT: Yiddish Film Between Two Worlds, \o7 By J. Hoberman (Schocken Books/The Museum of Modern Art; $40; 401 pp.)\f7 By Kenneth Turan, \o7 Turan is film critic for The Times\f7

THE GREAT AMERICAN MEDICINE SHOW \o7 by David Armstrong... By Charles Solomon

MY FATHER'S GEISHA \o7 by James Gordon Bennett (Washington... By Charles Solomon

GHOST TOWNS OF THE MOJAVE DESERT: A Concise and... By Charles Solomon

SHAKER LIFE, WORKS AND ART \o7 by June Sprigg & David... By Charles Solomon

WHAT'S GOING ON HERE? The Harper's Magazine Book of... By Charles Solomon

DEATH IN THE MARSH \o7 by Tom Harris (Island Press... By Charles Solomon

ABSENT FRIENDS \o7 by Frederick Busch (New Directions... By Charles Solomon

Letters and the Law By Jack Miles

NEWS

Latinos Aspire to New Power as the City's Biggest Minority By Vicki Torres, TIMES STAFF WRITER

Growth Wiped Out Old Neighborhoods By Vicki Torres, TIMES STAFF WRITER

Another City Joins Drug Fight : Law enforcement: Narcotics unit to become part of LA IMPACT, a countywide task force that operates against drug traffickers. By Franki V. Ransom, TIMES STAFF WRITER

Ah, the 1950s. Ike was in the White House. The Yankees... By Edmund Newton

Eastman Says He'll Run in New District By Mike Ward, TIMES STAFF WRITER

Councilwoman Says She'll Quit If Recall Ousts Others By Tina Griego, TIMES STAFF WRITER

21 Miles of Walls Proposed Along River Channels : Flood control: Plan may also ease restrictive building and insurance requirements. Critics say it's environmentally harmful. By Bettina Boxall, TIMES STAFF WRITER

Dance Classes Give Students a Toehold in Arts By Howard Blume, TIMES STAFF WRITER

Forces Line Up For, Against Developing Hillside Area : Growth: Landowner envisions 1,300 luxury homes on 970 acres. Preservationists want site saved for a regional wilderness park. By Howard Blume and David Avila, TIMES STAFF WRITERS

Former 'Ghost' Actor Must Deal With Ghosts of His Own By Susan Paterno

Cities Study Anti-Gang Law That Fines Parents By John Penner, SPECIAL TO THE TIMES

Revised Ban on Overnight Parking to Be Considered By Gerald Faris, TIMES STAFF WRITER

India Train Crash Kills 26 \o7 Reuters\f7

100 Hurt in Train Crash \o7 Associated Press\f7

Wave of Strikes Engulfs Bulgaria \o7 Reuters\f7

Failed Industrial Plants Are Now Toxic Perils : Environment: Taxpayers often must foot the bill to clean the sites. Thousands of workers were left unemployed when facilities closed. By Sharon Cohen, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Cuba's Quarantine of Victims Typifies Aggressive Campaign on AIDS : Health: Blood tests are mandated for all hospital patients, pregnant women, medical workers, foreign residents, Cubans who have spent time abroad. By Mary Jo Mcconahay, PACIFIC NEWS SERVICE

Surprise Growth in Paper Recycling Cited By Scott Sonner, ASSOCIATED PRESS

What's a 200-Inch Snowfall to This Guy? By Paige St. John, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Parents Face Trial on Child Neglect, Sex Abuse Counts Associated Press

Spain Still Fights Colonial Image as It Nears 1992 Columbus Festivities : Event: Planning efforts for the explorer's 500th anniversary prompts an avalanche of bad publicity from former overseas holdings. By Keith Grant, REUTERS

Argentina's V.P. Quits Reuters

Digs Unearth Hoard of History on Egyptian Pyramids By Mimi Mann, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Chicago Wrestles With Crowded Airports, Struggles to Get New Facility Off Ground By Sarah Nordgren, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Elderly Country Dwellers Face Higher Living Costs, Fewer Choices in Medical Care : Health: On average, they spend all their after-tax income on doctor's bills. Insurance against illness also is hard to get, study says. By Jennifer Dixon, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Pneumonia-Related Ills Chief Killer of Children Reuters

Thieves Take Teddy Bears Associated Press

Deadly, Explosive Mt. Unzen Is the Unlikely Star of New Japanese Cable TV Service : Volcano: The early warning system allows residents at base of peak to rest a little easier. By Teruaki Ueno, REUTERS

Shoulder to Shoulder, Volunteers in N.J. Are Rebuilding a City--Block by Block By Melanie Burney, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Army Doctor Tracks Down His Patient By Joan Sanchez, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Navy's Blast Test Plan Assailed as a Relic : Empress II: 'This is a dinosaur of the Cold War years,' a critic says. But Soviets 'still have a tremendous capability out there,' a captain responds. By David Pace, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Slaves of N.Y.--Faint Voices of the Dead By David Von Drehle, THE WASHINGTON POST

From Employer to Nuisance: 3 Stories : Economy: As plants close and leave thousands jobless, cities must cope with the residue. That can include health hazards and pollution. By Sharon Cohen, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Boy's Death Underscores Perils of Industrial Ruins : Hazards: The accident spawned a campaign to have one abandoned industrial site razed. But cities say they cannot afford demolition, and derelict plants are hard to sell. By Eric Fidler, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Sled-Dog Mushers Battle Charges of Animal Cruelty By Julia Rubin, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Encroaching Desert Plagues Bangladesh By Anis Ahmed, REUTERS

Candidates for President Know Firsthand the Hard Lessons of Adversity : Politics: Among the Democrats, poverty, racism and the nearness of death played role early in life. By Jill Lawrence, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Constitution's Bill of Rights Approaches 200th Anniversary in Top Form : Liberty: The first 10 amendments assured the document's ratification. States wanted protection from an all-powerful federal government. By Richard Carelli, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Coal Fuels Feud in Rural Montana Over the West's Oldest Issue: Water : Environment: Ranchers say mining would disrupt springs. Backers disagree and say the area needs jobs. By Tom Laceky, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Insectarium: No Place for Faint-Hearted : Museum: The facility aims to promote a better understanding of what it calls the 'least appreciated creatures on Earth.' By Christine Tierney, REUTERS

ACLU Accuses U.S. of Funding Religion : Health: Suit challenges so-called Chastity Act, which finances high school programs that encourage abstinence and stress adoption over abortion. By Tracy Thompson, THE WASHINGTON POST

The Rape Trial on Trial in Canada : Legislation: A bill to be introduced aims to protect alleged victims from defense lawyers intent on discrediting their versions of assaults. By Mary Williams Walsh, TIMES STAFF WRITER

Learning Aids for Preschoolers Proposed : Education: Foundation says 35% of children enter kindergarten unprepared. Report lists ways to improve their readiness. By Paul Houston, TIMES STAFF WRITER

Maxwell Feared Internal Coup, Paper Reports : Publishing: Executives at the newspaper group had questioned his financial dealings. Wiretaps are found in some of their offices. From Times Wire Services

Developer Defeats Legislator in Runoff for Houston Mayor Associated Press

Yeltsin Proposes 'Commonwealth' to Save Soviet Union : Policy: He declares Gorbachev's efforts a failure. 'Slavic summit' leads up to high-stakes Moscow meeting. By John-thor Dahlburg, TIMES STAFF WRITER

U.S. Focus Shifts to New Strongmen : Foreign policy: Soviet breakup forces the White House to seek out the emerging seats of power. By Doyle Mcmanus, TIMES STAFF WRITER

Steen Suffers Seizure, Is Hospitalized : Homecoming: Former hostage is stricken shortly after arriving in Detroit from Germany. Doctors expect him to be released today. From Times Wire Services

Mideast Peace Talks May Resume Tuesday Times Wire Services

Albania Moves to Quell Food Riots, Burglaries Associated Press

Iraqi Trade Rolls Along Despite U.N. Embargo : Mideast: Truckers, smugglers move goods. Officials say there is no broad violation by Jordan of sanctions. By Nick B. Williams Jr., TIMES STAFF WRITER

Smith Case Prosecution Suffers Setback : Trial: Judge rules against rape trauma expert who might have explained accuser's memory lapses. Defense lawyers call their first witnesses. By Paul Richter, TIMES STAFF WRITER

3 Killed in TV News Helicopter Crash Associated Press

Atlas Rocket Puts TV Relay Satellite in Orbit Associated Press

Attack Sliced Ichiyamas Into Two Families By Susan Essoyan, SPECIAL TO THE TIMES