Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, March 15, 1994 TAG: 9403150124
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: WARREN FISKE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Long
Hoping that controversy surrounding his alleged womanizing is behind him, the 54-year-old Democrat delivered speeches around the state portraying himself as a principled and independent senator whose quiet, issue-oriented approach is "right for Virginia and right for America."
But when it came time to answer questions after the speech, Robb found that reporters had more than policy issues on their minds. In three cities, he was pelted with questions about his personal conduct until his wife, Lynda Bird Johnson Robb, glanced at her watch and announced it was time to end the news conference.
In Richmond, one reporter asked Lynda Robb to comment on her husband's unusual letter to state Democratic activists last week admitting past behavior that "was not appropriate for a married man."
"That's between the two of us, and I consider it over," she said politely. "Chuck has been a good husband and a good father for 25 years, and given the chance, I'd marry him again."
True to his promise last week not to say "anything more about private social activities that took place over eight years ago," Robb calmly declined to answer questions relating to parties he attended in Virginia Beach when he was governor from 1982 to 1986.
In an effort to "reacquaint himself with Virginia voters," Robb focused his speech on reminding people of his accomplishments as governor and during his first term in the Senate. About 50 to 100 supporters, most of them die-hard Democrats, turned up at each of Robb's appearances in Roanoke, Norfolk, Richmond and Fairfax County.
Robb cast himself as a reliable alternative to Oliver North, the front-runner for the Republican nomination.
In an obvious reference to North, a staunch conservative who was a key figure in the Iran-Contra scandal, Robb described himself as "someone who is associated with the more responsible elements of the political process," adding, "If you want to use your vote to send an ideological message, then I'm not the right person."
Robb defended his quiet approach to his troubled first term in the Senate that has left many voters wondering what he has accomplished. Polls have shown Robb's once vast popularity has dropped steeply in recent years, and that fewer than 50 percent of voters give positive marks to his job performance. Even so, early polls have shown that Robb would defeat North.
"In a period where it might have been easy to be distracted, I have to remember that this is a job that has to be done day by day, vote by vote," he said. "I haven't said much about it."
Robb stressed that as governor, he was able to almost double funding for public education without raising taxes. In the Senate, he said, he has been a steady voice for reducing the national deficit and was the first Democrat to support the Gulf War in 1991.
He pledged, if re-elected, to support an amendment for a balanced budget, welfare reform and a law-and-order agenda. "While I remain traditionally conservative on fiscal policy, foreign policy and defense, I remain progressive on social issues and human rights," he said.
At each stop, Robb introduced his wife, the daughter of former President Lyndon Johnson, as "a very special woman, a very special human being, who in a difficult period has shown what love and character really mean."
As the media surrounded Robb after his speeches, Lynda Robb rose and stood by his side. In Roanoke, she touched him and stroked his cheek while reporters barked questions.
The tension between the Robbs and reporters was palpable.
"How do you square your letter last week with your previous statement that Lynda Robb was the only woman you've ever loved physically or emotionally?" he was asked.
"If you remember, I said in my letter all that I felt was appropriate, and I'm going to stick to that," Robb replied.
"Doesn't this give reporters and your opponents a new chance to trot out all these charges again?"
"I thought there was some confusion about some matters, and there was a constant drumbeat, even though most of the things were not appropriate for public discussion . . . I wanted to do that, and I think I did it in an honest, straightforward way, and I've indicated I'm not going to comment any more."
"Why shouldn't voters take into account the private life of a public official?"
"I think I have answered that question."
"You say you've always prided yourself on telling the truth, but [some people say] your version of the truth in this particular case is rather tortured and doesn't actually work . . . How you would address folks who wonder: Are you telling the truth?"
"Obviously, if we continue to talk about and dwell on things of this nature, we never will move on. I can simply tell you without any additional embellishment that you have my word, with God as my witness, that everything I have attempted to say at any time - including the letter, that I think puts this behind me - is the truth.
"If I ever find that I have fallen from that standard, I'd leave public office immediately."
In Richmond, after a similar grilling by reporters, Lynda Robb conspicuously glanced at her watch and whispered in her husband's ear. "It's time to get moving," she announced, prodding him toward the door.
Staff writer Dwayne Yancey contributed information to this story.
Keywords:
POLITICS
by CNB