November 15, 1997

How obscurity turns to fame for the long dead in the arts. PAGE B7 Scholars give the national parks low marks in history. PAGE B7 HBO offers two views of Don King: his and the legend. PAGE B16 Moonstruck magic from the grandfather of film fantasies. PAGE B7

Some commuters object to Metropolitan Transportation Authority's offer of 9 percent discount on monthly rail ticket for commuters who buy $60 worth of bus and subway fares on Metrocard; they say those who do not use city transit system in addition to railroad end up paying more for their commutation; Robin Schneider-Weissbratten says she hopes riders who walk to and from train station, as she does, will join together in class-action lawsuit against plan; photo (M)

Two of 24 high school students enrolled in Cityterm, semester in which classrooms are executive offices, artists' lofts, museums and theaters, give their impressions of Times Square, where they spent five days; aim of program is for them to return to their own communities around the country better prepared for coming urban century; photo (M)

Dominican Government expected to grant its citizens abroad right to vote from polling places where they live; move promises to turn Dominican immigrant community in New York City into powerful electoral force in its homeland, as second-largest concentration of votes in any Dominican election, exceeded only by Santo Domingo; voting-rights measure working its way through Dominican Congress would grant even naturalized American citizens of Dominican descent right to vote and run for office; measure was spearheaded by Dominican population in New York, well aware of clout of its dollars in Dominican elections (M)

Ford Motor Co, in an effort to strengthen day-to-day management at its troubled European unit, names James D Donaldson president of Ford of Europe, and Henry D G Wallace, chief financial officer; decision to send both men to Europe greatly strengthens the regional management group, which has limited power over such country-level subsidiaries as Ford of Britain and Fordverke in Germany; for the last four years, Ford has been pursuing an innovative management experiment, known as Ford 2000, aimed at uniting executives around the world based on their area of expertise; even with this coordination, Ford has failed to thrive in highly competitive European market, hence shift to strengthen management at the regional level; graph on Ford sales in Europe (M)

American retailers encounter great difficulty finding workers for this Christmas season because of low levels of unemployment not seen in more than quarter century and glowing health of other industries offering better-paying steady jobs; Godiva is practically giving away candy, Sears offers recruiting bonuses and anyone putting in an application is being interviewed; offering extra discounts and lifting wages may squeeze profits, and shoppers who already take dim view of service are likely to find even longer lines and less help; Bruce Van Vleeck of retailers' association notes competition from restaurants, movie theaters and hotels are all doing well; retirees are especially being targeted to work for season; photo; graph (M)

Profile of First Union Corp, Charlotte, NC, under leadership of its chairman, Edward E Crutchfield; with 75 acquisitions over last decade, First Union is now sixth-largest bank in America, but for all its success it still risks becoming even more distant second to its flashier hometown rival, Nationsbank; when Nationsbank completes its proposed acquisition of Florida's Barnett Banks, it will claim assets of some $290 billion, nearly twice First Union's; charts comparing Nationsbank and First Union; photos (L)

US and UN officials trace showdown with Iraq that began when UN inspectors moved to uncover Iraqi biological weapons program, including germ-warfare tests and suspected caches of anthrax; confrontation began with letter from head of inspection team, Richard Butler, to Iraqi Foreign Min Tariq Aziz; Butler stated that UN intended to inspect secret sites controlled by Pres Saddam Hussein's elite personal security, and suspected caches of data and materiel; Iraq never responded, but two days later threatened to shoot down American U-2 spy planes supporting UN mission, and vowed to expel Americans from team; Butler letter also sought data on missile warheads that inspectors believe were filled with biological and chemical agents, and data on Iraqi possession of VX chemical nerve agent; elite Republican Guard, run by Hussein's son Qusay, controls large installations around Baghdad that have been declared off-limits to UN; Iraqis continually lie about weapons programs, and have not revealed what became of 17 tons of material imported nine years ago that could produce chemical weapons (M)

Pres Clinton announces dispatch of second aircraft carrier, the George Washington, to join the Nimitz in Persian Gulf, as warning to Iraq to allow UN team to resume weapons inspections; deployment also bolsters US ability to strike Iraq even if neighboring countries do not cooperate; photo; map; Clinton adds that Saddam Hussein's expulsion of American inspectors insures that international sanctions will continue 'till the end of time, or as long as he lasts'; Clinton also meets with King Hussein of Jordan, who 'loosely relates' lack of support from Arab allies; Sec Madeleine Albright discusses issue with British Sec Robin Cook in Scotland; Britain orders carrier Invincible to Mediterranean (M)

For Store Workers, Christmas Comes Early From $100 signing bonuses to discounts on choice merchandise, workers hired by merchants for this year's holiday selling season are benefiting from acute labor shortages. The lowest unemployment level in a quarter century has forced retailers to offer extraordinary lures to attract part-time help. But the shortage of help could be trouble for shoppers, who may find that the customer-service and cashier lines in malls and stores in coming weeks are more aggravating than in previous seasons. [Page A1.] Siemens Buying Westinghouse Unit Westinghouse Electric sold its power-generation business to Siemens of Germany for $1.525 billion. In doing so, Westinghouse confirmed that it would sell its remaining industrial businesses instead of spinning them off into a separate company. Westinghouse will become a media company, and on Dec. 1, will change its name to CBS. [D2.]

New York Mets' general manager Steve Phillips raises possibility that team may conduct some business with Florida Marlins, in helping World Series champions strip their payroll of high-salaried players; photo (M)

New York State Board of Regents votes, 10-4, to require most high school students to pass three years of foreign language to earn a diploma; proposal to include foreign language in new academic standards surprises some members, including Education Comr Richard Mills and Chancellor Carl T Hayden; both are opposed, Mills saying he agrees with goal but is not sure schools can accommodate new standard; New York City Schools Chancellor Rudy Crew voices even stronger concern; warns 1,000 more teachers would have to be hired at time when they are in short supply; only about seven percent of public high school students in city now take Regents exams in foreign language; board also approves Mills' controversial proposal to allow students whose English is limited to take Regents exams in their native languages; J Edward Meyer opposes that concession, while supporting foreign-language requirement; Louis Grumet of school boards association charges board acts on 'whim' (M)