Reid hopeful of accord in quick impeachment process

Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., said today he was "cautiously optimistic" that a deal could be reached to avoid a long impeachment trial of President Clinton.

"We're doing our best to work it out," Reid told the Sun this morning from Washington. "We just don't have it done yet."

His comments were made as he headed to the Senate chamber to be sworn in as minority whip, the second most powerful leadership position among Democrats.

Reid, as the new assistant Democratic leader, has been working behind the scenes to rally support for a bipartisan proposal to end the impeachment proceedings after one week.

The proposal, pushed by Sens. Slade Gorton, R-Wash., and Joseph Lieberman, D-Conn., would give the House and the president each one day to present their cases. That would be followed by a day of questioning from the senators and another day of debate on whether to end the trial or conduct further proceedings.

Reid, starting his third term in the Senate, said he was hopeful a deal could be reached before the trial starts on Thursday.

Reid said he doesn't favor calling witnesses, especially former White House intern Monica Lewinsky, whose sexual affair with Clinton prompted the House to issue two articles of impeachment against the president last month.

"I think the American public has heard all the details it needs about this sordid relationship," Reid said.

Reid met with his Republican counterpart, Senate Majority Whip Don Nickles of Oklahoma, Tuesday as part of the intense efforts to reach an accord. Republican Majority Leader Trend Lott of Mississippi and Democratic Leader Tom Daschle of South Dakota have been at the forefront of the negotiations.

Democratic senators, Reid said, are united in wanting a quick trial. But Republicans have yet to reach a consensus on how to proceed.

A bipartisan resolution is important to the nation, he said.

"We as a Senate need to show the country that we can act in a bipartisan way," Reid added. "The House showed it can't act in a bipartisan way."

Reid said the impeachment trial has put a damper over the convening of the new Congress and his celebration as minority whip.

"We're now faced with the reality that in less than 24 hours an impeachment trial is going to begin, the first one in 130 years," he said. "We all understand the seriousness and the solemnity of all of this."

The senator described the ongoing talks to avoid a protracted trial as fluid and that "anything is possible."

Reid did not rule out the possibility that a censure vote to could be thrown into the mix in any deal.

Looking to his duties as minority whip, Reid said his rise to power will give him an opportunity to do more for Nevada.

"We have to make sure this rapidly growing state gets its share of federal programs," he said.

Reid, the highest ranking Nevadan ever in the Senate, said his top priority on a national basis will be to keep the Democratic Party in the mainstream.

After his swearing in today, Reid planned an afternoon reception at his Senate office and an evening one at a Capitol Hill hotel.

Vice President Al Gore, the Democratic front-runner for president in 1990, planned to attend the evening reception. Reid is expected to back Gore's candidacy.

A number of prominent Nevadans -- among them Nevada Resort Association President Richard Bunker, Nevada Gaming Commission Chairman Bill Curran, KVBC TV-3 owner James Rogers and former Attorney General Brian McKay -- traveled to Washington to help Reid celebrate.

Reid said he doesn't expect to move into the whip's office in the Capitol Building for another month.

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