First Lady’s First Job

“I WANT IT DONE — NOW,” BILL CLINTON TOLD HIS health-care task force. To prove it, he gave them a new boss: Hillary Rodham Clinton (as she now wishes to be called). It is by far the most powerful job ever held by a First Lady: Mrs. Clinton will have six Cabinet officers reporting to her. It is also a tough assignment. Hillary’s husband has given the task force only 100 days to produce a program that extends coverage to everybody yet reduces costs — which under present policy are expected to more than double in the next six years. Should the President’s wife be involved in developing major policies? Respondents to a Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll split about evenly: 47% yes, 45% no. (See related story on page 31.)