Mystery Hillary Memo Surfaces

N E W   Y O R K, July 19, 2000 -- First lady and New York Senate candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton today dismissed charges that she used an anti-Semitic slur in 1974 — even as a campaign memo surfaced that encourages backers to obscure their ties to the campaign while speaking to reporters on Mrs. Clinton’s behalf.

“I’ve said all I’m going to say about this,” Mrs. Clinton said today, responding again to a claim by Paul Fray, manager of President Clinton’s failed 1974 congressional campaign, that the first lady called him a “Jew bastard” in an election-night argument.

“It wasn’t true, it didn’t happen and I’m not going to allow it to distract from the real issues of this campaign,” Mrs. Clinton added at an Albany news conference.

The Clinton campaign confirmed today that the memo, a copy of which was obtained by ABCNEWS, was written by Karen Adler, her point person on Jewish issues. The memo, addressed to the first lady’s “Jewish Advisory Group,” encourages supporters to place calls to reporters covering the Senate race for Jewish newspapers, but asks that the callers present themselves as “concerned citizens.”

“It is important that you do not say you are calling because the campaign asked you to, but because you are outraged with what was said about her,” the memo reads. “The most important thing is to let them know that you know Hillary and you know that she would never make these kinds of anti-Semitic or racist comments.”

The memo also includes a series of “talking points” that highlight alleged inconsistencies about the allegation.

Adler has made numerous calls to Jewish leaders herself in recent days, pleading Mrs. Clinton’s case.

When asked about the memo, a spokeswoman for Mrs. Clinton said only that the campaign was “gratified by the outpouring of support” they have received since the charge came to light.

Dan McLagan, spokesman for Mrs. Clinton’s Republican opponent, Rep. Rick Lazio, said it was “outrageous that Mrs. Clinton would ask her supporters to lie for her. Her credibility has suffered irreparable damage today and increasingly, New Yorkers have to wonder if they can trust Hillary Clinton.”

Hillary Denies Charge, Fray Sticks to his Story

Fray’s charge, first reported in New York newspapers on Friday, has come to light with the publication this week of State of a Union, a book on the Clintons by former National Enquirer reporter Jerry Oppenheimer.

Mrs. Clinton vigorously denied the charges at a press conference on Sunday afternoon, and repeated her denials Monday, calling it a “particularly offensive, false accusation.”

The first lady also produced a 1997 letter written by Fray to her, in which Fray refers to interviews he has given and writes “I have wronged you,” adding, “At one time in my life I would say things without thinking, without factual foundation.”

President Clinton also defended the first lady, telling the New York Daily News, “I was there and [Hillary] never said it. In 29 years, she has never, ever uttered an ethnic or racial slur against anybody, ever.”

Fray stood by his story today, saying on ABCNEWS’ Good Morning America that although he doesn’t think Mrs. Clinton is anti-Semitic, he would take a lie detector test to prove that he was telling the truth.

Jewish Support Could Slip

Despite Mrs. Clinton’s repeated denials, the allegations could prove damaging, as Mrs. Clinton struggles to gain the high level of support among the Jewish community usually received by New York Democrats.

New York Jewish leaders, including state assemblyman Dov Hivkind, protested outside her campaign headquarters in Manhattan Monday, and her Jewish backers have attempted to reach out to the Jewish community since then — scripted or otherwise.

Jewish voters make up from 10 percent to 15 percent of New York’s electorate.

—ABCNEWS

New Hillary Ad Hits Upstate

Mrs. Clinton is targeting upstate New York with her latest television ad, which she launched today.

Titled “Economy,” the spot trumpets Mrs. Clinton economic development plan for upstate New York, which proposes using tax credits and incentives to spur high-tech business growth.

“Hillary will make improving the upstate economy a top priority,” said Clinton campaign Communications Director Howard Wolfson.

Dan McLagan, Campaign Communications Director for Mrs. Clinton’s opponent, Rep. Rick Lazio, said he was pleased that this ad, unlike others Mrs. Clinton has released, did not criticize Lazio’s record.

“I think its clear…they’re trying something else,” McLagan said. “We say, ‘welcome back from the dark side.’”

—Stephen Yesner contributed to this report

Hillary’s Money Matters

A star-studded list of donors have helped Mrs. Clinton’s Senate campaign raise nearly $4.8 million from the beginning of April to the end of June, according to financial reports filed with the Federal Elections Commission. Prominent donors include Al Gore, Robert DeNiro, Susan Sarandon, NBA Commissioner David Stern, heartthrob singer Marc Anthony and Vanessa Williams. The campaign has raked in about $8.7 million this year. The Clinton campaign’s biggest expense during this period was $1.84 million for television advertising. Another $630,000 was paid to political consultants and $200,000 to the Penn& Schoen polling firm. The total take by the campaign for the quarter was $5.84million. According the report, the campaign has $6.9 million on hand.

— Eileen A. Murphy contributed to this report