Bobby Ray Inman

It was with a huge sense of disappointment and relief that I watched retired Navy Adm. Bobby Ray Inman withdraw his name from President Clinton's secretary of defense post (Jan. 19). I was profoundly disappointed because I know firsthand what a capable defense secretary he would be. I worked directly for Inman twice in my career and I know of no other person who approaches, much less rivals, his integrity, leadership and vision--qualities sorely needed in formulating today's national security strategy.

Although few Americans followed Adm. Bobby Ray Inman's abrupt withdrawal from consideration for the defense secretary's job, many agree with his condemnation of the media, according to a survey released Wednesday. A growing number of Americans say press coverage of politicians' personal and ethical behavior has become excessive and is discouraging qualified people from entering public life, says the survey by the Times Mirror Center for People and the Press.

Regarding Bobby Ray Inman: Another paranoid Texan quits because of a "Republican conspiracy" to get him. Do we have a trend here? CARL NOLL Riverside

Regarding Bobby Ray Inman: Another paranoid Texan quits because of a "Republican conspiracy" to get him. Do we have a trend here? CARL NOLL Riverside

The press coverage that Adm. Bobby Ray Inman said drove him to withdraw his nomination as defense secretary focused on setbacks in his business dealings, his failure to pay Social Security taxes on a domestic worker and his reputation as an inside-the-Beltway media operator. A review of the coverage, however, shows that it was overwhelmingly positive, highlighting his substantial qualifications and the likelihood that he would be easily confirmed.

President Clinton speculated Thursday that retired Adm. Bobby Ray Inman withdrew as the nominee for secretary of defense because "down deep inside I think maybe he wasn't sure he wanted to go back" to government service. Clinton, in his first public comment on Inman's decision, said Americans "shouldn't lose sight" of Inman's 30 years of military service in which he rose to the rank of four-star admiral.

Although few Americans followed Adm. Bobby Ray Inman's abrupt withdrawal from consideration for the defense secretary's job, many agree with his condemnation of the media, according to a survey released Wednesday. A growing number of Americans say press coverage of politicians' personal and ethical behavior has become excessive and is discouraging qualified people from entering public life, says the survey by the Times Mirror Center for People and the Press.

White House officials said Monday that Secretary of Defense-designate Bobby Ray Inman had failed to pay Social Security taxes for a part-time housekeeper but that President Clinton would proceed with the nomination. If confirmed, Inman would join at least one other Cabinet member--Secretary of Commerce Ronald H. Brown--and two dozen other high-level appointees who have received top Administration jobs despite Social Security tax violations.

Retired Navy Adm. Bobby Ray Inman abruptly withdrew Tuesday as President Clinton's nominee for defense secretary, saying he had been troubled by attacks on his reputation and by "reports" that Senate Minority Leader Bob Dole (R-Kan.) was preparing to begin a campaign against him. The surprise withdrawal stunned official Washington and the defense community.

It was almost like a premonition. After serving three decades in naval intelligence, as head of the National Security Agency and deputy director of the CIA, Bobby Ray Inman was retiring from government service 10 years ago and moving his family home to Texas. But his wife, Nancy, a longtime Easterner, seemed a bit reluctant, perhaps almost sure that someday they would return to Washington. "The joke," one longtime acquaintance said, "was that she drove to Texas with one foot on the brake."

It was with a huge sense of disappointment and relief that I watched retired Navy Adm. Bobby Ray Inman withdraw his name from President Clinton's secretary of defense post (Jan. 19). I was profoundly disappointed because I know firsthand what a capable defense secretary he would be. I worked directly for Inman twice in my career and I know of no other person who approaches, much less rivals, his integrity, leadership and vision--qualities sorely needed in formulating today's national security strategy.

President Clinton speculated Thursday that retired Adm. Bobby Ray Inman withdrew as the nominee for secretary of defense because "down deep inside I think maybe he wasn't sure he wanted to go back" to government service. Clinton, in his first public comment on Inman's decision, said Americans "shouldn't lose sight" of Inman's 30 years of military service in which he rose to the rank of four-star admiral.

Bobby Ray Inman's bizarre withdrawal as the defense secretary nominee provides a glimpse into a peculiar Washington phenomenon--the insider who has spent so long behind the scenes that he is unprepared for the glare of the public limelight.

Retired Navy Adm. Bobby Ray Inman abruptly withdrew Tuesday as President Clinton's nominee for defense secretary, saying he had been troubled by attacks on his reputation and by "reports" that Senate Minority Leader Bob Dole (R-Kan.) was preparing to begin a campaign against him. The surprise withdrawal stunned official Washington and the defense community.

The press coverage that Adm. Bobby Ray Inman said drove him to withdraw his nomination as defense secretary focused on setbacks in his business dealings, his failure to pay Social Security taxes on a domestic worker and his reputation as an inside-the-Beltway media operator. A review of the coverage, however, shows that it was overwhelmingly positive, highlighting his substantial qualifications and the likelihood that he would be easily confirmed.

When President Clinton picked Bobby Ray Inman to replace Defense Secretary Les Aspin last month, the choice was widely hailed as just what the President needed to win credibility with the military and its backers on Capitol Hill. The 62-year-old retired Navy admiral had acquired broad experience in the national security arena and an awesome reputation as a bureaucratic infighter. He was all but an idol to conservatives in Congress.

Women's groups expressed chagrin Tuesday over this week's White House decision to forgive Bobby Ray Inman for failing to pay Social Security taxes for his housekeeper but said they will not seek to block his nomination as secretary of defense.

President Clinton's apparent choice of retired Adm. Bobby Ray Inman to replace Les Aspin as secretary of defense reflects a desire for three factors that Aspin, for all his strategic knowledge and Washington experience, never quite acquired, former defense officials said Wednesday. One is credibility with the uniformed services. The second is a high-level management skill to carry out deep budget cuts in a huge organization without crippling its ability to function.

With the likely elevation of Bobby Ray Inman to secretary of defense, an innovative, employee-owned company specializing in military contracts will find itself with some of the most powerful connections Washington has to offer. Assuming he is confirmed by the Senate, Inman will become the fourth member of the board of directors of Science Applications International Corp. to get a top Pentagon post within the last year.

Women's groups expressed chagrin Tuesday over this week's White House decision to forgive Bobby Ray Inman for failing to pay Social Security taxes for his housekeeper but said they will not seek to block his nomination as secretary of defense.