December 20, 1998

Dave Anderson, in Sports of The Times, comments on New York Jets' coach Bill Parcells, who, in leading Jets to a division title, has now changed the fortunes of a third NFL team; table shows Parcells's records with New York Giants, New England Patriots, and Jets; photo (M)

House Speaker-elect Repr Robert L Livingston, who shocked Congress with revelations of adultery, further stuns Capitol with announcement that he will not serve as Speaker and will quit Congress in six months; jolts colleagues during impeachment vote, stating action is example for Pres Clinton, who should also step down; suggestion draws boos and catcalls from Democrats; both sides move quickly to exploit Livingston's announcement; Republicans cite him as example of courage; says Clinton should likewise put country first by resigning; Democrats, who fear decision could escalate calls for Clinton to quit, plead with Livingston to reconsider; cast him as good man destroyed by savage system; Democratic leader Repr Richard Gephardt delivers stirring speech that draws bipartisan applause; praises Livingston as 'worthy, good and honorable man;' says resignation is grave mistake since it represents terrible capitulation to negative political forces consuming political system and country; Repr Jerrold Nadler says resignation is surrender to developing 'sexual McCarthyism;' Republicans move swiftly to fill leadership vacuum; Repr Dennis Hastert, conservative who is perceived as pragmatist, is seen as likely successor; photos (M)

Construction has begun on three-building luxury rental complex on First Avenue between 75th and 76th Streets, New York City; RFR/Davis is developer, H Thomas O'Hara and Michael Graves architects; drawing (M)d

Behind the Wheel article on 'last-minute' holiday gifts 'under $300,000' suggests Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph; photo (S)

Concluding that big-league status was worth an expensive gamble, the Connecticut General Assembly voted tonight to build a $375 million stadium for the New England Patriots in downtown Hartford and committed millions more to help fill it with fans. The approval came after eight hours of debate in a one-day special session, with opponents saying that the bill had been rushed and that crucial details remained unknown. Gov. John G. Rowland has said he will sign the bill in the next several weeks.

Robert Lipsyte column says the mishaps and routines of everyday life have been a support to him and his family as they deal with his mother's illness; drawing (M)

Manner in which Salt Lake City won bid to host 2002 Winter Olympics has become focus of an investigation into charges of bribery and corruption that have further damaged credibility of Olympic movement already staggered this year by unprecedented series of doping scandals; Salt Lake City scandal provides most unsparing glimpse yet of tectonic grinding between purist ideals of Olympics and economic reality that Winter and Summer games are billion-dollar businesses; 2002 Winter Games have operating budget of $1.45 billion, and are expected to have economic impact of $2.8 billion for city; photo of Tom Welch, bid committee head (M)

New generation of floral and party designers in New York uses flowers only sparingly, or replaces them altogether with all manner of unlikely materials, such as paper or lights; photos (M)

While on-line trading is popularly regarded as province of day traders in their 20's and 30's, such trading has been joined by persons older than age 50; Microsoft Corp says more than 20 percent of people who use its popular Microsoft Investor software are over age 50, and E-trade, fast-growing on-line brokerage, says quarter of its customers are over 55, up 19 percent from June 1997; profiles of three over-age-50 on-line day traders (L)

News analysis of House vote to impeach Pres Clinton and unexpected decision by House Speaker-elect Robert L Livingston to resign from Congress because of revelations of adultery; Livingston's decision has deepened Capitol's sense of insecurity and will only increase pressure on Clinton to step down; longer Senate takes to make final ruling on articles of impeachment, more numerous calls for Clinton's resignation are likely to be (M)

Photo of Mark Twain, who reported on 1868 impeachment of Pres Andrew Johnson

While some best-paid corporate executives, such as William H Gates and Ted Turner, advertise their donations, others, such as John F Welch of General Electric, say their giving is no one else's business; with huge sums that many chief executives earn, they are increasingly seen as standard-setters in philanthrophy; survey of charitable giving of 12 of best-paid executives of nation's 500 biggest companies focuses on Michael D Eisner of Walt Disney Co, Sanford I Weill of Citigroup, Eugene I Isenberg of Nabors Industries, Eckhard Pfeiffer of Compaq Computer, Reuben Mark of Colgate-Palmolive, Eli Broad of SunAmerica, Charles A Heimbold Jr of Bristol-Myers Squibb, Stephen M Case of America Online, Lawrence A Bossidy of Allied-Signal, and Summerfield K Johnston Jr of Coca-Cola Enterprises; photos; biographical sketches and chart on corporate compensation (L)