The Family Way

FLOUNDERING FATHERS

British Prime Minister Tony Blair’s paternity-leave dilemma inspired “envy,” President Clinton said. With good reason. Under a new law, all British fathers can take an unpaid paternity leave as long as 13 weeks without being fired or demoted. American dads can take 12 unpaid weeks; Clinton can’t. For a leave of office, says the 25th Amendment, the President must send Congress a written declaration that he is “unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office.” The G.O.P. would relish that note more than an impeachment.