The Week June 12-18

By Leslie Dickstein, Christopher John Farley, Lina Lofaro, Lawrence Mondi, Michael Quinn, Jeffery C. Rubin, Alain L. Sanders and Sidney Urquhart

NATION

The Simpson Tragedy

After leaving a note proclaiming his innocence and leading police on an extraordinary freeway chase televised live across the nation, football superstar and television sportscaster O.J. Simpson surrendered to authorities at his mansion in Los Angeles. Capping five days of intensive investigation and media scrutiny, police arrested Simpson on charges of murdering his former wife and her friend outside her home.

Health-Care Maneuvers

House Democrats united to fend off what they claimed (and some Republicans virtually conceded) to be Republican obstructionism on health care. The House Ways and Means Committee sided with other congressional committees and voted in favor of mandating employers to finance health insurance, with breaks for small businesses. But leaders of the Senate Finance Committee told President Clinton they did not have the votes on their panel for such a provision, which the President favors. First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton raised the possibility of negotiating away abortion coverage, if necessary, to pass a compromise bill.

Exxon Valdez Verdict

In a decision that could dig deep into the Exxon Corp.'s pockets, an Alaska federal jury concluded that the oil giant was reckless in permitting a captain with a history of drinking to command the Exxon Valdez, the oil tanker that ran aground five years ago in Prince William Sound and caused the nation's worst oil spill. The verdict against Exxon and Captain Joseph Hazelwood enables local residents to seek $1.5 billion in compensation and $15 billion in punitive damages.

Welfare Reform

President Clinton redeemed one of his big 1992 campaign pledges by formally unveiling his $9.3 billion welfare-reform plan. Its central features would expand job training for recipients and require those born after 1971 to join a work program after two years or risk losing benefits. Chances of passage this year: virtually nil in a Congress already clogged with health reform.

Bill and Hillary Testify

In an unprecedented 2 1/2-hour session at the White House, the President and the First Lady were interrogated separately under oath by Whitewater special counsel Robert Fiske about the suicide of deputy White House counsel Vincent Foster and a series of Administration discussions regarding the investigation of the S&L at the center of the Whitewater affair. The Senate later voted to hold hearings next month on the same matters -- the least controversial aspects of the Whitewater case -- while Republicans continued to press for a wider inquiry.

An Emperor Comes Calling

Sidestepping the political and economic frictions that have abraded U.S.-Japanese relations of late, President Clinton welcomed Emperor Akihito and his wife Empress Michiko to the White House -- and to his Administration's first state dinner -- for a day of ceremony focused on goodwill and cooperation.

Grass-Roots Free Speech

The U.S. Supreme Court reaffirmed its commitment to free speech by unanimously striking down a Ladue, Missouri, beautification ordinance that prohibited residents from posting political and other signs on their property.

Virginia's Senate Slugfest

Dissatisfied with the choices of their parties (Iran-contra figure Oliver North for the Republicans and incumbent Senator Charles Robb for the Democrats), two men are mounting challenges in Virginia's Senate race. Former state attorney general J. Marshall Coleman, a Republican, is already running as an independent, and former Democratic Governor L. Douglas Wilder is expected to announce his formal candidacy soon. Virginians are now assured one of the most contentious, unpredictable campaigns in the nation.

Preparing for Dole in '96?

Neither he nor the country may be ready for it yet, but Senate minority leader Bob Dole acknowledged that he has begun maneuvering for the 1996 presidential election just in case. Dole has instructed advisers to line up some key G.O.P. political strategists and fund raisers in his corner before other Republican hopefuls grab them.

African-American Summit

Emerging from three days of closed-door meetings organized by the N.A.A.C.P. in Baltimore, African-American leaders agreed to reconvene in August to focus on economic development, youth and community empowerment, and moral and spiritual renewal. The N.A.A.C.P. drew attention and criticism for inviting controversial Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan.

Waco Sentencing

The eight Branch Davidians convicted for their roles in the deadly shoot-out that precipitated the Waco standoff were sentenced by a federal judge to stiff prison terms ranging up to 40 years.

WORLD

Reducing the Korean Conflict

Responding to a proposal by North Korean leader Kim Il Sung, his South Korean counterpart, President Kim Young Sam, agreed to a summit meeting in order to resolve tensions over the North's suspected nuclear weapons program. If it comes off, the meeting would be the first of its kind since Korea split in two in 1945. The agreement came at the end of talks between Kim Il Sung and former U.S. President Jimmy Carter; thanks to Carter's diplomacy, the North had already agreed not to expel international nuclear inspectors. But the Clinton Administration denied Carter's suggestion that the U.S. was ready to drop its call for U.N. sanctions against North Korea.

Shaky Truce in Bosnia

For the most part, the month-long cease-fire agreed to on June 15 by Bosnia's warring parties held. Among several flare-ups along the front: the area around Bihac, where Bosnian government forces fought a group of Muslim rebels who have declared an independent fiefdom. Meanwhile, Croatian President Franjo Tudjman visited Sarajevo to discuss a newly formed Bosnian federation of Muslims and Croats.

Haitians Interviewed on Ship

The first Haitian boat people were processed aboard a U.S. Navy ship in Kingston, Jamaica, to see if they qualified for asylum in the U.S. Six of 35 petitioners, who were picked up from three small boats, made the cut; the rest will be sent back.

Vatican, Israel Make Nice

Building on an agreement made last December to recognize each other, Israel and the Vatican established full diplomatic relations and agreed to exchange ambassadors and open embassies.

Israel Frees Palestinians

Israel let 1,100 Palestinians out of jail in accord with the agreement on Palestinian self-rule signed in May. But an additional 650 who were scheduled for release were kept in detention because they refused to sign statements renouncing violence.

Rebels Advance in Rwanda

Fighting between Hutu-led government forces and Tutsi rebels in Rwanda continued as a truce reached early in the week was immediately violated by both sides. Tutsi rebels, avenging the massacre of tens of thousands of Tutsi civilians by Hutu militias, captured the interim capital of Gitarama after an all-night battle.

Yeltsin's Hard Line on Crime

Sparking strong opposition from the Russian parliament and press, President Boris Yeltsin announced harsh new measures to fight the country's violent- crime wave. Yeltsin decreed that police may detain suspects up to 30 days without judicial authorization, examine confidential records, make searches without warrants and use surveillance as evidence.

BUSINESS

Health-Care Merger

Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. and Travelers Insurance Co. Inc. have announced merger plans that would create one of the nation's largest health- care firms.

He's Back ...

Brandon Tartikoff, TV-programming whiz kid, is back. New World Communications Group Inc., which recently aligned itself with the Fox network, has named him head of TV production. Under terms of the deal, New World will purchase Tartikoff's company, Moving Target Productions, for $9 million. The new hire, who led NBC to six straight years as ratings champ, will bring instant credibility to the Fox-New World venture.

SCIENCE

A Sanguine Discovery

After more than three decades of research, scientists announced that they have identified a key hormone that helps blood clotting. Doctors hailed the find as a potentially crucial tool in improving the treatment of cancer and bone- marrow-transplant patients.

Back to the Wild

The California gray whale, whose population has risen from 10,000 in the late 1930s to 21,000 today, was removed from the endangered-species list, though it remains illegal to kill, injure or harass a gray whale without a scientific- research permit. The Clinton Administration also said that 30 gray wolves will be reintroduced into Yellowstone National Park and central Idaho, where they once thrived. They will not, however, be protected to the same extent as the whales: ranchers can take action against a wolf if they find one attacking livestock on their land.

THE ARTS & MEDIA

On with the Show

Perestroika, Part 2 of Angels in America, won this year's Tony Award for Best Play, making playwright Tony Kushner a winner for an unprecedented second consecutive year. Stephen Sondheim's Passion was deemed Best Musical. The other awards were dominated by revivals. Despite winning only one award (for Best Costume Design), Disney's stage version of Beauty and the Beast racked up $1.3 million in sales the day after the ceremony -- a Broadway record.

SPORTS

What Curse?

Euphoria engulfed the hometown fans as the New York Rangers captured the Stanley Cup for the first time in 54 drought-ridden years. After losing Games ( 5 and 6 to the Vancouver Canucks, the Rangers came back to win the seventh game of the series 3-2. Faithful fans were ecstatic as team captain Mark Messier paraded the trophy around the arena, allowing them to touch the coveted cup.