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Congressional leaders in both parties and both houses are also trying to find a way to undo O'Neill's damage. Even the Speaker is said to be looking for a graceful way to back down. His aides have privately urged the White House to send O'Neill a letter promising not to veto the bill. The hope on all sides is to get the bill up for a vote next year. But the most optimistic concede that the going will be rough: 1984, after all, is a political year.
—By Evan Thomas. Reported by Neil MacNeil and Ross H. Munro/Washington