December 19, 1998

CLASHING VISIONS -- As members of the full House took up the debate over impeachment, they quarreled perhaps most angrily over each other's motives and over which party was truly dedicated to the Constitution and the rule of law. Each party tried to sell itself to the American people and to its most loyal constituents as the group on the side of the angels. Page B2. LYING LOW -- Robert L. Livingston, the incoming Speaker of the House, spent most of the day in a private office, avoiding a gantlet of reporters and speaking with colleagues. On Thursday he faced the public disclosure of his past adultery. But during the impeachment debate, a handful of Democrats made only oblique allusions to human failures. Page B3.

David Gonzalez About New York column on deaths of three New York City firefighters, who died trying to rescue 67-year-old woman from blaze in her Brooklyn apartment (M)

A 10-page special section, including five pages of debate transcript, begins on page B1.

Effort to save struggling Philippine Airlines will test determination of Philippine Pres Joseph E Estrada, who has ruled out Government bailout for flag carrier owned by political supporter Lucio C Tan; airline wants to focus on profitable routes and cut fleet, but needs outside capital; photos; graph; tables (M)2

News analysis; House of Representatives is poised to do what even some of its own Republican leaders once considered unimaginable, namely, impeach Democratic President in near party-line vote against will of electorate; seems far more like polarized Reconstruction House of 1868 that impeached Pres Andrew Johnson than 1974 House that was ready, sorrowfully, to impeach Pres Nixon when he resigned; photo (M)

Defense Department says it is able to confirm that only 18 of 89 targets were destroyed or severely damaged on third day of air assault on Iraq, despite waves of bombers and more laser-guided cruise missiles than were used during 1991 Persian Gulf war; Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen Henry H Shelton acknowledges that results of US and British air campaign have been mixed so far; Pres Saddam Hussein remains defiant; calls attackers 'agents of Satan' in first televised address since start of bombing campaign; US military planes drop thousands of leaflets warning Iraqi ground troops they face bombing raids if they try to mobilize (M)

Article describes scene in House during debate over impeachment of Pres Clinton; House members offer nation day of partisan rancor that spills beyond debating floor (M)

Molly O'Neill describes work of so-called 'caviar cops,' who monitor rich supply of caviar coming into New York City; agents, using DNA testing to determine origin of eggs, was set up to enforce tough new international standards that now regulate caviar importing; agents are employed by United States Fish and Wildlife Service; photo (M)

FDX and Its Pilots Reach A Tentative Contract Deal FDX, the parent of Federal Express, said company negotiators had reached a tentative five-year labor settlement with its pilots' union. The agreement, reached late Thursday, would give the pilots a 17 percent raise over the length of the contract. It is to be presented to the union rank and file for ratification.

Three Firefighters Die In Brooklyn Building A fireball engulfed a hallway while the men tried to rescue a woman from her apartment; they were unaware that she had already been pulled to safety. Officials said sprinklers had been turned off. Page D1.

New York Times/CBS News poll finds Republican Party's standing with public has dropped significantly, matching lowest rating in past 14 years, as House moves toward impeachment of Pres Clinton; finds only 40 percent of Americans hold favorable view of party, while six out of 10 Americans say Republicans in Congress are out of touch with public's wishes on impeachment; finds impeachment is opposed by 62 percent of Americans from every region, age group and income group--with exception of those who describe themselves as Republicans; four out of 10 Americans believe it would be better for country for Clinton to resign if impeached by House; other findings of poll noted; graph (M)

Residents of racially diverse suburb of Richmond Heights, Mo, express hardened attitudes on both sides of impeachment question, along with sense of powerlessness and inevitability about partisanship of Washington; many find it unseemly to have impeachment debate while US is engaged in military action against Iraq; say they are willing to accept Pres Clinton's assertion that timing of action is unrelated to impeachment inquiry; photo (M)