McVeigh Defense Begins Case

Attorneys for convicted Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh pleaded for his life today, saying he should be seen not as a monster but as a trustworthy former soldier who thought the government was at war with the American people. Appealing to the jurors who will decide if McVeigh is sentenced to death or life in prison, defense attorney Richard Burr said: "You will begin ... to see him for a person who could be your brother, your son, your grandson." Burr said he would call 20 to 25 witnesses to testify on McVeigh's behalf, including his father William and his former teachers, military colleagues, co-workers and supervisors. The prosecution rested its side of the case this morning.

White House Defends Ralston

The White House is cautiously defending a top candidate for chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in the face of congressional charges of a military double standard on extramarital sex. White House officials today attempted to deflect questions about Gen. Joseph Ralston by saying Defense Secretary William Cohen had not yet formally recommended Ralston for the joint chairmanship. Cohen is backing Ralston to take over the JCS despite revelations he engaged in an adulterous affair 13 years ago. It appears the White House and the Pentagon are waiting to see which way public reaction goes on Ralston before deciding if he should be nominated.

War of Words Over Disaster Aid

Senate Democrats are threatening to hold up work until disaster relief for flood-stricken states is assured. Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle says Democrats "will not allow legislation to move in Congress until this issue is resolved." President Clinton has vowed to veto a disaster aid bill, passed by both houses of Congress yesterday, because it contains two Republican-backed provisions. The bill provides $5.4 billion for disaster assistance, but includes GOP-supported measures to avert another government shutdown over the federal budget and to block the use of sampling to include uncounted minorities in the 2000 census.

Jobless Rate Down, Stocks Soar

The unemployment rate fell to the lowest level in nearly 24 years in May but the pace of job growth slowed markedly in a report that sparked a powerful rally on Wall Street. The Labor Department said the unemployment rate fell to 4.8 percent in May, the lowest level since October 1973, from April's 4.9 percent. But payrolls grew by just 138,000 after surging by 323,000 in April. Investors bet the report meant the Fed would hold rates steady next month after raising them in March, and drove the Dow Jones industrial average up 130.49 points to a record 7,435.78.

Clinton Speaks at Graduation

President Clinton gave an emotional send-off to his daughter Chelsea at her high school graduation ceremonies today. Clinton said he and his wife had raised their 17-year-old daughter for moments such as her graduation from the exclusive Sidwell Friends school and that they are very proud of her. But the president admitted he sometimes wishes she was a little girl again and that he's sad that she'll be leaving for Stanford University in California this fall. Clinton's advice to Chelsea and her classmates was: "Dream big and chase your dreams ... Even if you don't get what you think you want, amazing things will happen."

U.S. Envoy Arrives in Congo

U.S. envoy Bill Richardson has arrived in the Democratic Republic of Congo to discuss American aid. Richardson, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, says the level of U.S. assistance for new Congo President Laurent Kabila depends on his respect for refugees, human rights, democracy and free market economic policies. Richardson say he will fly to the southern mining city of Lubumbashi tomorrow to discuss with Kabila assistance to the new government and U.S. concerns, including the reported massacres of Rwandan Hutu refugees.

Congress Warned on China MFN

White House National Security Adviser Sandy Berger is warning Congress that revoking Most Favored Nation trade status for China "could well make China our enemy." In remarks prepared for delivery tonight, Berger said denying China the favorable tariff treatment would "cut off our contact with the Chinese people," rather than strengthen the forces for human rights, would eliminate cooperation on weapons proliferation, close an emerging market to U.S. exports and weaken Hong Kong just as the British colony reverts to Chinese rule July 1. Republican Sen. Jesse Helms has introduced a resolution to deny China MFN trade status. A vote is expected later this month.

KKK, Nazi Symbols at Citadel

The CBS news program "60 Minutes" says students at The Citadel displayed Nazi and Ku Klux Klan symbols despite the military college's statements that it would never condone such actions. In a report to be aired Sunday, "60 Minutes" said the publicly financed South Carolina college has a decades-old tradition of displaying Nazi and KKK symbols. A photograph in a 1977 yearbook shows cadets in KKK garb surrounding a black man with a noose around his neck. The report includes an interview with a black former student who was shot on campus and says the incident was racial.

No Jail Time for Charlie Sheen

Actor Charlie Sheen was given a one-year suspended prison sentence and put on probation for two years today after pleading no-contest in Los Angeles to a charge of battery for an attack on his girlfriend. Judge Lawrence Mira also ordered the star of "Platoon", "Wall Street" and "Hot Shots" to pay $2,800 in fines and restitution, perform 300 hours of community service and attend eight counseling sessions. In addition, Sheen was ordered to stay away from Brittany Ashland, who alleged the actor knocked her to the ground of his home during an argument last Dec. 20.

Gift to Support New College

A New York City foundation pledged today to give at least $200 million to build a new engineering college outside Boston. The gift is the largest ever made to a U.S. institution of higher learning. The president of the foundation says the money will be used to create the Franklin Olin College of Engineering, named for a Vermont-born industrialist. The foundation was created by Olin in 1938 to give building grants to schools. The new college will be located on 60 to 80 acres of land in Needham, Mass., next to Babson College, a top-rated private business school.

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