BY SONYA ROSS
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON -- President Clinton kept a low profile Sunday, skipping church services even as his lawyers continued to defend him on the talk show circuit.
Had he attended Foundry United Methodist Church as usual, he'd have heard the Rev. J. Philip Wogaman equate Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr's report with pornography but say the process "could even be viewed as a blessing, because it forced him to face up to things." "And he committed himself to the hard work of repentance," the Rev. Mr. Wogaman said.
Mr. Clinton spent part of the day on the phone, making calls to members of Congress and taking one from French President Jacques Chirac. They talked about Kosovo, Russia, security in Europe and, briefly, Mr. Clinton's troubles.
"It's safe to say the president of France offered his complete support to President Clinton," said national security spokesman P.J. Crowley.
The president also was preparing for a speech on the global economy he planned to give today before the Council on Foreign Relations in New York. The speech was expected to focus on global economic problems. Later he is scheduled to speak at a Democratic fund-raising luncheon and attend a performance of The Lion King.
On Sunday, the president emerged from the White House once in the afternoon, walking with his chief of staff to the Old Executive Office Building next door for a reception honoring the fifth anniversary of the Oslo peace accord.
Mr. Clinton stayed for a few minutes and walked back to the White House with aides.
The president started his day trying to get Sen. Orrin Hatch on the phone.
"We had a very interesting conversation," said Mr. Hatch, R-Utah.
