The Quick Fall Of A Speaker

Stunning the House hours before the vote to impeach President Clinton, House Speaker-designate Rep. Bob Livingston announced Saturday that he will not serve as speaker and will leave Congress. He also apologized for past extramarital affairs, divulged just two days earlier.

After calling on President Clinton to resign, the man who was supposed to be the next House speaker said he'll set an example by resigning himself.

Livingston told Clinton that he could only challenge him to leave his post if he was willing to heed his own words.

The White House and many Democrats immediately called on Livingston to reconsider his resignation. Spokesman Joe Lockhart said the "politics of personal destruction must stop."

Democrat Jerrold Nadler of New York said Livingston's decision was wrong, and that Livingston is surrendering to what Nadler called "sexual McCarthyism." He said some sins should stay between a person, his family and his God.

But the Republicans are shocked and nervous about Livingston's decision to step down, reports CBS News analyst Gloria Borger "The last thing in the world they need right now is a divisive leadership race," she said Saturday.

One source told Borger that he was afraid the speaker's race could descend into chaos.

Livingston, 55, was nominated without opposition to succeed Newt Gingrich as speaker on Nov. 18. Gingrich stunned the House with his own resignation on Nov. 7.

Livingston has refused to preside over the impeachment debate about President Clinton's role in the Monica Lewinsky affair, but he was on the speaker's dais Thursday for House consideration of a resolution supporting U.S. troops carrying out air strikes against Iraq.

Livingston had wanted to assume the speaker's post with a minimum of controversy. Action against Iraq was unforeseen. However, impeachment was becoming his problem after Gingrich, R-Ga., withdrew from the business of running the House after announcing his resignation.

Until last weekend, Livingston appeared thave succeeded in lying low. But he landed in the middle of the debate with his comments against any resolution censuring Clinton, in which he said such action would "violate the careful balance of separation of powers."

Livingston's decision may have been a response to rumors about details of his affairs. Several conservatives revealed they were rethinking their support of him for speaker.

"We ought to ask questions ... rather than circle the wagons for one of our tribe," Rep. Mark Sanford, R-S.C., had said in an interview.

Rep. Spencer Bachus, R-Ala., also had said Republicans should re-examine Livingston's fitness to be speaker. "You can't criticize the president's behavior as being unacceptable and then not consider this as material, just ignore this and brush it aside," he said.

Livingston's problems were intensified by the narrow GOP margin in the next House: just 223-211, plus one independent who usually votes with Democrats. If just six Republicans had refused to support him for speaker, he would have lacked the 218 votes needed to be elected assuming the Democrats and independent vote against him.

Livingston was born in 1943. He has been a member of Congress since 1977, and has been chairman of the House Appropriations Committee since 1995. He is married to the former Bonnie Robichaux. They have four children, a daughter, Suzie, and three sons: Rob, Richard and David.

Conservative but practical, he had become a standard-bearer for disgruntled Republicans dissatisfied with Gingrich, a polarizing Georgia Republican.

An attorney from a New Orleans suburb, Livingston had talked earlier in the year about retiring from Congress. Gingrich persuaded Livingston to stay on and seek a 12th term. Livingston began positioning himself for a run for speaker in the year 2000, when Gingrich had planned to step down.

Just two days ago, Livingston confirmed that he has engaged in extramarital affairs.

Saturday, he apologized to his colleagues, his wife, and his family. And then he announced that he will not be serving as the next House speaker. He also said he would quit Congress after six months and ask the Louisiana governor to hold a special election to fill his seat.

Calling on Mr. Clinton to resign, Livingston said the president has done ''great damage'' to the nation, and that he could lessen that damage by leaving office. His call was met with shouts of protest from Democrats.

It was then that he issued the announcement that stunned his colleagues and a nationwide audience that had tuned in to watch the impeachment vote.

"I must set the example that I hope President Clinton will follow. ... I will not stand for speaker of the House on January 6 but rather will remain as backbencher in this House I love so much," Livingston said as the House fell silent. He said he would quit Congress after six months.

Livingston had been scheduled to be elected speaker when the 106th Cngress convenes Jan. 6.

Thursday, Livingston had told a closed-door meeting of House Republicans on Thursday night that he has had "affairs."

At the time, Livingston's Republican colleagues were supportive. Democrats weren't. Click here for more on Sex And The Party Line.

In a statement issued on the eve of a historic impeachment debate involving the sexual conduct of President Clinton, Livingston said, "These indiscretions were not with employees on my staff, and I have never been asked to testify under oath about them."

Livingston, R-La., got a standing ovation of support from his colleagues, and a spokesman said the congressman would not resign.

"When I did an early interview with the media after announcing my candidacy for speaker I told a reporter that I was running for speaker, not sainthood," Livingston told a Capitol Hill newspaper. "There was good reason for those words."

Livingston had also said he "would not be intimidated," and would continue to serve as House speaker. His statement claimed there were "individuals working together with the media" investigating his personal background to exploit during the impeachment proceedings.

"I have decided to inform my colleagues and constituents that during my 33-marriage to my wife, Bonnie, I have on occasion strayed from my marriage and doing so nearly cost me my marriage and my family," he told the Roll Call newspaper.

"I want to assure everyone that these indiscretions were not with employees on my staff and I have never been asked to testify under oath about them," he said.

Livingston spokesman Mark Corallo said at the time, "There has been no talk of resignation. The Republican Conference is solidly behind" Livingston.

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