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This Just In: Media

To praise Freeh? Or to bury him?

By Dan Kennedy

White House press secretary Michael McCurry's tribute to FBI director Louis Freeh last week was as sincere as an undertaker's smile -- and as subtle as a stiletto in the back. But it was too subtle, apparently, for Boston Globe reporter Brian McGrory.

Following Freeh's public disagreement with Attorney General Janet Reno over the latter's refusal to sic an independent counsel on Bill Clinton and Al Gore, McGrory reported last Friday that "Reno and the White House were trying to patch their differences with words of praise for Freeh."

"The president has great confidence that Mr. Freeh is leading as best as he can," McGrory quoted McCurry as saying at a White House briefing.

But many media outlets reported that McCurry's words were overlaid with a heavy layer of sarcasm. USA Today, for instance, noted that "Freeh got what could be characterized only as a lukewarm endorsement." The USA Today account continued:

"I think the president thinks that the FBI is the world's greatest law-enforcement agency, and I think the president has great confidence that Louis Freeh is leading that agency as best he can," White House press secretary Mike McCurry said.

When asked whether he realized his comments were not a ringing endorsement, McCurry responded: "I am pretty careful on how I choose my words."

Indeed, McCurry went out of his way to dis Freeh, which is especially clear from a transcript USA Today ran. ("Q: But is he the right man for the job? McCurry: He's the one in the job. That's correct." That response, the transcript notes, evoked laughter.)

McGrory did point out that, privately, the White House is deeply unhappy with Freeh. But McCurry's "endorsement" was a classic Washington un-endorsement, which the Globe's man in Washington didn't seem to understand.