BY ROBERT GREENE
Associated Press Writer
CHEVY CHASE, Md. -- A poised Hillary Rodham Clinton struck a business-as-usual pose on the day a special prosecutor's report was made public detailing the president's sexual affair with a former White House intern.
She attended one event by herself Friday after listening as her husband, at a prayer breakfast with religious leaders, apologized yet again for his actions with Monica Lewinsky. The couple also appeared together later at a memorial service for the victims of the bombings at U.S. embassies in Africa.
In her solo public appearance, Mrs. Clinton avoided any mention of her husband's relationship with Ms. Lewinsky.
Instead, in a calm, deliberate speech to about 300 foster youth and social workers, she talked about family, to an audience accustomed to family pain, without saying too much about her own plight. She recalled a visit she paid last year to foster children and their advocates in California.
"My staff, my friends, my husband and my daughter know that I have talked about that meeting many times since then," she said. Later Friday, at a White House event marking Irish-American friendship, looking more chipper, she smiled at Clinton before delivering remarks that referred to "Bill and me."
Health and Human Services administrator Carol Williams also touched on the Clinton family in her introduction of Mrs. Clinton: "I believe that she wants for each of you what she and the president have been able to provide for Chelsea -- love, security, opportunity," Williams said.
In her 20-minute speech, Mrs. Clinton talked about the administration's pro-family, pro-adoption agenda and accomplishments. She asked them for advice on furthering that agenda, saying, "I think there's a lot you can help teach Americans about resilience, hope, grit and determination."
Audience members praised Mrs. Clinton handling of the Lewinsky situation.
"I'm sure she's upset about it," said Tammi Cunningham, 32, of Nashville, Tenn., who helps train foster parents. "I'm sure she's angry and hurt. She's chosen to deal with it in her own way and we don't need to know."
"I think it's between her and her husband," said Carol Hale, 48, a social worker from Chickasha, Okla. "She seems to be holding herself up very well."
AP-CS-09-12-98 0123EDT
