American Notes CONGRESS

So frequently and dramatically has Democratic Congressman Les Aspin of Wisconsin zigzagged on key issues -- voting funds for Nicaragua's contras last year, for example, after opposing such aid in early 1986 -- that one Hill wag has taken to asking, "Is Aspin having a liberal week or a conservative week?" When Democrats convened for the start of the 100th Congress, Aspin had a bad week: his party caucus voted 130 to 124 to oust him as chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, the job he won in an upset two years ago when he leaped over several more senior members.

Although Aspin is considered one of the Democrats' most astute spokesmen on defense policy, he could not straddle issues enough to satisfy the diverse liberal and conservative factions he had courted in his bid for leadership. More important, many colleagues had scores to settle for the way Aspin had reneged on commitments: some 50 Democrats who had promised their support turned against him when the secret vote in the caucus began. Said one Aspin backer: "Members indicated that Les didn't tell them the truth, and that was a factor."

Aspin could regain his position next week when the caucus considers new nominees. But his challengers include Florida's Charles Bennett, the committee's second-ranking Democrat, and moderate Texan Marvin Leath, who has mounted a well-organized six-month campaign for the job.