American Notes RUMORS

Gary Hart's Washington weekend with Miami Model Donna Rice sparked rumors about the sex lives of other politicians, but none have appeared quite as annoyed by the innuendos as Vice President George Bush. For weeks there were whispers in Washington that various news organizations were preparing stories on the Republican presidential contender's supposed romantic affairs. Finally the scurrilous gossip broke into print two weeks ago. Bush lieutenants accused the aides of Senate Minority Leader (and rival Republican White House hopeful) Bob Dole of spreading the rumors; Dole's people in turn charged Bush's staffers with sowing stories about how they had slung the mud. As the rumors about rumors escalated, Bush and Dole agreed in Washington last week to order a return to dignity. According to Bush Aide Lee Atwater, the candidates have decided "to keep the Eleventh Comandment: Thou shall not speak ill of a fellow Republican."