Leon's Lament

AS IF BOSNIA AND BOB DOLE WEREN'T ENOUGH, NOW Bill Clinton had to contend with a depression. Leon Panetta's depression, that is. On the 97th day of the Administration's first 100, as Cabinet colleagues burnished their leader's record, the Office of Management and Budget head volunteered that Clinton's North American Free Trade Agreement was "dead" in Congress, his Russian-aid request endangered, and even parts of his huge budget proposal threatened unless he "defines his priorities." Panetta's suggested definition: Postpone introducing Hillary's health plan until after a June budget vote.

Clinton was at first reported to be "extremely upset," then avuncularly forgiving -- Panetta needed "bucking up." Next, denial set in: a nuanced refusal that NAFTA was in trouble and a loud rejection of further health-plan delay. To some it makes little sense to postpone the health plan if it is going to make up a large part of the budget. But many Democrats, even in the Administration, agree that Clinton is oversubscribed. And on Friday the President added one more brick to his load; a government takeover of the student-loan program, which will lower collegians' interest rate 0.5% but cost 25 billion Republican-lambastable dollars over five years.

CHART: NOT AVAILABLE

CREDIT: Based on an analysis of Times editorials

CAPTION: THE CLINTON REPORT CARD