Clinton Proudly Helps Party Raise an Estimated $650,000 at 2 Events

WASHINGTON — President Clinton said Wednesday he was proud of his controversial Democratic fund-raising, and Thursday night he drove the point home--to the tune of $650,000.

That was the total the Democratic National Committee thought it would take in from about 100 contributors at two fund-raisers held simultaneously Thursday night at one hotel, with Clinton the star attraction at both events.

Over gazpacho and swordfish at the Mayflower Hotel, Clinton was expected to raise about $350,000 from members of the Democratic Business Council, DNC spokeswoman Melissa Bonney said.

Business and union leaders pay $10,000 to join the group, or $15,000 to enroll their political action committees. For this price, donors got to dine and mingle with such senior administration officials as Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman, Transportation Secretary Rodney G. Slater and Cabinet aide Thurgood Marshall Jr.

Later, Clinton moved to a nearby salon for a couscous and beef tenderloin dinner for DNC supporters who contribute $25,000, an event that was to raise about $300,000 for the party, which is reeling from debt in large measure because of the refunds and legal bills it has had to pay during the fund-raising investigation.

The DNC is dedicating 15% of the money it raises to retiring its $16.9-million debt and 85% to current races.

At a news conference this week, Clinton said that despite his call for an end to unlimited “soft-money” political contributions, he planned to keep raising them as long as they were legal and the Republicans continued to do so. “I certainly do, and I’m proud of it,” he said. “I don’t believe in unilateral disarmament.”