THE shock resignation of President Clinton's close political consultant over allegations he allowed a prostitute to eavesdrop on confidential conversations with Mr Clinton cast a cloud over what was meant to be the President's moment of glory at the Democratic convention.
As the President delivered his acceptance speech to launch his bid for a second term in the White House, the convention was still reeling from the news of the resignation following a sensational report in the New York Post that Mr Dick Morris had allowed a prostitute to see advance copies of the convention speeches of Vice-President Al Gore and Mrs Hillary Clinton.
The Republican campaign, which has been trailing badly in the polls, has jumped on the resignation as an example of "sleaze".
But White House spokesman, Mr Mike McCurry, has cautioned the press "to consider the source". Some Democratic activists are deeply suspicious of the timing of the report in the Post, pointing out that it is part of the Rupert Murdoch empire, whose publications are usually hostile to Clinton.
The newspaper also alleged that Mr Morris had allowed the prostitute to listen to a telephone conversation he was having with the President. The Post report is based on advance information that a weekly tabloid called the Star is to publish next week. The tabloid claims it has pictures of Mr Morris with the prostitute, Ms Sherry Rowlands, and other "proof" of its allegations.
Mr Morris in his resignation statement did not deny the allegations, but said he was resigning so as not to "subject my wife, family and friends to the sadistic vitriol of yellow journalism". He said he would not "dignify" the accusations with a reply.
President Clinton, in a statement, said he regretted the resignation of Mr Morris whom he described as "my friend and a superb political strategist". He said he would "always be grateful for the great contribution" that Mr Morris had made to his campaign and for "the invaluable work he has done for me over the last two years". Mr Morris has been playing a key role in the drafting of the President's speech and has had an office in the Sheraton Hotel here where Mr Clinton was fine-tuning his acceptance speech yesterday when the news broke. Mr Morris's role was highlighted by the cover of Time this week, showing him at the ear of the President. The magazine report is billed as ban exclusive look at the elusive Dick Morris and how he helps the President define himself".
The Republican presidential candidate, Mr Bob Dole, refused to comment directly on the allegations, but a spokesman referred to them as more "sleaze".
Mr Dole joked that since "Morris has been trying to make the President a Republican, now maybe he'll revert to being a Democrat". This was a reference to the frustration being experienced by Mr Dole as Mr Clinton followed the advice of Mr Morris and espoused Republican policies on welfare reform and balancing the budget.
Mr Morris, who is 54 and married, has always been regarded with suspicion by some White House aides because of his previous work for well-known Republicans seeking election to Congress. He first helped Mr Clinton get reelected as governor of Arkansas in 1980.
Mr Clinton called him back to work for him as a political consultant following the rout of the Democrats in the mid-term elections in 1994. This decision caused strains with the regular White House staff, but Mr Morris also had the support of Mrs Clinton when the rows erupted.
In his resignation statement, Mr Morris said that "while I served, I sought to avoid the limelight because I did not want to become the message. Now I resign so that I will not become the issue".