European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 27, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Sunday december 27, 1992 i . The stars and stripes Page 5 Aspin ties to defense Industry assailed by Nelson Schwartz the Baltimore Sun Washington a when Les Aspin first came to Washington 22 years ago he was a Young Turk quickly making enemies among the military brass and a name for himself on Capitol Hill. Armed with Little More than press releases and a few aides Aspin exposed billions in defense waste and began the climb that ended last week with his selection As Secretary of defense. But some critics charge that in recent years Aspin has become a Symbol of what he once fought against an entrenched member of the military establishment a Man who overlooks conflicts of interest in an Effort to steer defense pork to his political Back Yard. Much of the criticism focuses on a group he founded the Aspin procurement Institute. The Institute was created in 1986, the year after he became House armed services committee chairman. The nonprofit organizations stated goal was helping Wisconsin companies compete for lucrative Federal contracts especially from the Pentagon. Critics assert that the lines Between Aspinw a political interests and those of the Institute have sometimes blurred. Now As Aspin is poised to take Over the reins at the defense department they ask whether he should have Lent his name and credibility to an organization that works closely with big defense contractors a companies whose work for the Pentagon that Aspin was charged with overseeing. Although he serves As the Institute s honorary chairman Aspin has maintained that its activities Are separate from his congressional office. But the institutes executive director Mark Wagner is a former member of Aspinw a District staff its president and treasurer Robert Henzl served As Aspinw a Campaign chairman during the 1970s and �?T80s and its vice president Jim Wood is a longtime Friend and fund Raiser. Aspin went to Bat for an Institute client and local employer Oshkosh truck and the army ended up buying thousands More of the trucks than it had originally sought. Aspinw a defenders Point out that the heavy trucks were a critical asset in the persian Gulf War. The army was grateful a and so was Oshkosh truck. Its employees have donated $4,000 to Aspinw a Campaign fund in the last five years. A a Raspin has institutionalized congressional corruption a said Liberal activist Ralph Nader. A the Institute provides a facade for influence peddling. He uses tax Money to promote contracts to corporations who turn around and give to his  Aspinw a aides insist that critics misunderstand both the Institute and the Normal duties of a member of Congress. A Les Aspin has assisted the work of the procurement Institute As part of his Overall Effort to bring jobs and business to Wisconsin a said Vernon Guidry a House armed services committee staffer. A a that a what congressmen do. There is no conflict of interest in helping the Institute bring business to  although a decision has not been made Aspin is expected to sever his tics with the Institute before he takes Over As Secretary of defense aides said. Rep. Les Aspin. Conflict of interest charges denied re in the stars and stripes 10yi first woman attorney general Namenye Arago dec. 27,1982 a two weeks before their arrest by the polish communist government five top Solidarity Union leaders had vowed to continue their struggle to revive the banned Union even from their prison cells. 20years ago dec. 27,1972 a Harry s. Truman the 33rd president of the United states died in a Kansas City mo., Hospital at the age of 88. 30years ago dec. 27,1962 the last of 1,113 Haggard men airlifted to Freedom from 20 months of agony in cuban prisons held joyous reunions with their families in Miami. They were captured during the Bay of pigs invasion by anti Castro cubans in 1961.40 year Sago dec. 27,1952 a . Army 2nd it. Horace j. Sincore held prisoner 31 Days by the soviets said in West Berlin that he had been kidnapped by East Berlin communist police while on a training Mission in the . Sector. World War ii 50 years ago today dec. 271 a 9 4 �2 american soldiers make a new attack on the Gifu Strong Point on the slopes of mount Austen on Guadalcanal but Are beaten Back by the japanese. More Allied tanks and reinforcements land at new Guinea to help the attacks on the japanese beachhead on the North coast. In Burma Indian troops advancing Down the Mayu Peninsula reach Indin. Source 2194 Days of War w h. Smith publishers inc. World almanac Book of world War ii. Bison books corp1981 a Little Rock Ark. A president elect Clinton on thursday named Zoe Baird the first woman to serve As . Attorney general As he completed the Choice of a Cabinet designed to deliver a the Energy and the experience America  Baird 40, is a former Carter White House Legal aide who is chief counsel for Aetna life and casualty co. Her appointment was the highlight of a news conference at which Clinton rounded out a diverse Cabinet with these selections a former Arizona gov. Bruce Babbitt for Interior Secretary. Babbitt 54, is a colourful outdoors Man who sought the 1988 democratic presidential nomination. He is an outspoken advocate of preserving Federal lands and protecting the environment. Babbitt is president of the league of conservation voters after serving two terms As Arizona governor. A rep. Mike Espy of Mississippi for agriculture Secretary. A major Clinton Campaign supporter and fellow member of the centrist democratic leadership Council Espy 39, was a Strong contender for the Post Early on. But some farm and environmental groups objected and Clinton was considering other candidates As late As wednesday. A former Denver mayor Federico Pena for transportation Secretary. Pena 45, who became Denver a first hispanic mayor in 1983, has been serving As head of Clinton a transition team studying transportation issues. A los Angeles attorney Mickey Kantor a Zoe Baird. Fourth woman named to Cabinet As . Trade representative. Kantor 53, was chairman of Clinton a presidential Campaign. Clinton said his Cabinet would a Combine the Energy and experience that America needs a noting that his choices a come from All across America from diverse  Espy a Clinton Campaign ally would be the fourth Black in the Cabinet a Milestone. Pena would be the second hispanic. Clinton also announced his Choice of or. Jocclyn elders to become . Surgeon general effective in june when the term of Antonia Novillo expires. Elders who is Black also will be an assistant to the Secretary of health and human services. John Gibbons head of the congressional office of technology assessment was named White House science adviser. Baird was the fourth woman tapped by Clinton for his Cabinet counting the . Ambassador. A she Baird is Tough tenacious and gifted a Clinton said. Baird and her husband Yale Law school professor Paul Gewirtz Are executed to spend part of the new years oliday with the president elect and his wife Hillary. Elders 59, a daughter of sharecroppers from the tiny Arkansas town of Schaal has been a bold and combative state health director since Clinton made her the first woman and first Black to hold the Post in Arkansas. Since her appointment in 1987, elders has drawn the Wrath of conservatives and religious groups for her support of school based health clinics and the dispensing of contraceptives in some school facilities. Elders said she will not soften her combative style in Washington. A the one thing i could say is that governor Bill Clinton five years ago invested in an unknown Quantity. Now five years later he is appointing me surgeon general and he knows what he a getting into a said elders a paediatrician who lives in Little Rock. Private Loans to finance inauguration Washington a Bill Clinton a inauguration will be largely financed with private Loans the same controversial method used to pay for president Bush a elaborate affair four years ago. Clinton a inaugural committee needed $17 million to $18 million in Loans from individuals and businesses to stage a the most Public and open inaugural in history a said spokesman Richard Mintz. He said the Money would be repaid from sales of commemorative items ticket sales to inaugural affairs and from commercials during televised events. Clinton a inaugural committee initially expected to spend about $20 million but is in the process of revising that figure upward. At least 20 events Are planned Over five Das capped Jan. 20 when Clinton officially takes office. Bush spent a record $30 million on five Days of lavish events in 1989, collecting $100,000 interest free Loans from such High profile corporations As american express ism and general motors. The Money was to be repaid through the Sale of inaugural Memorabilia which in Bush Scase ranged As High As $1,200 for a Steuben Glass Eagle. Some groups complained that Many of the companies that made Loans either were regulated by the government or were government contractors who might expect favors in return for the financing. But Mintz defended the arrangements likening them to corporate sponsorship of the olympics. He said such Loans had paid for inaugurations since 1948. Inaugural committees Are private and not legally required to make Public the details of financing deals. But Mintz promised that a list of those making Loans to the Clinton committee would be released soon. He said 90 percent were previous financial supporters of the president elect. Mintz also said the list of commemorative items had not been finalized but would include such souvenirs As paperweights tie clasps scarves neckties mugs and Holiday decorations. A most of them Are going to be reasonably priced from $10 to $25,�?� he said adding that the pieces offered four years ago a sort of looked like the accessory counter at Brooks