BUSH WOULD BE WISE TO TELL THE TRUTH

Texas Gov. George W. Bush, who until recently has been walking through this
year's political minefields untouched and unscathed, has stupidly created
potentially explosive problems for his presidential hopes. He has done this
by giving evasive answers to questions about whether he has ever used
cocaine or other illegal drugs.

The questions were given new life when 11 presidential candidates were
asked by a newspaper whether they had ever used drugs. Bush was the only
one who refused to answer. This week, when reporters pressed him on the
issue, he became indignant, describing the questioning as part of a
political game that he would not play.

Then began a series of partial reversals and half-answers. By late
Thursday, Bush was saying that he had not used drugs in the last 25 years,
testily adding that voters who were not satisfied with that answer could
"go find somebody else to vote for."

Bush's refusal to give a straight answer to questions about drug use
inevitably creates the impression that he has something to hide. His dodges
and shifts recall the persistent and equally indefensible refusal by
President Clinton to 'fess up to reports that he had an affair with Monica
Lewinsky. Still, Bush's evasiveness is minor compared to Clinton's flat-out
lies.

Bush is not the only American to be leery of the growing tendency by the
press and others to poke into the private lives of public servants. But
Bush himself opened the door to such inquiries when he acknowledged that,
like many of his peers, he had done dumb things when he was young.

Specifically, he said he drank too much beer and bourbon until, on his 40th
birthday, he swore off alcohol. He also volunteered the information -
doubtless seeking to contrast himself with the scandal-tainted Clinton -
that he has remained faithful to his wife.

Now, when Bush is asked about another aspect of his private life - one that
relates to a serious legal, medical and social problem in this country - he
becomes evasive and defensive. That's not fair to voters, and probably
won't, and shouldn't, end the questioning.

If Bush ever ascends to the presidency, he will inevitably be forced to
listen to questions that he doesn't want to answer and that he may believe
- - with good reason - are inappropriate. But the ability to respond calmly
and effectively to this sort of pressure is an essential part of a
president's job description.

Bush ought to tell the whole truth as soon as possible, just as Clinton
ought to have done. When Bush does that, he will be able to put this issue
behind him, and voters will have a chance to test his views on the many
other pressing problems that face the country.