By Belinda Luscombe

Kim's Maternity Leave

No one is against motherhood, right? Well, director Robert Altman might be a little peeved at it. He just lost the leading lady for his current film, Kansas City, to a baby. KIM BASINGER, 41, wife of the oldest of the four BALDWIN brothers, ALEC, 37, has pulled out of the movie because she's pregnant with her first child. The baby, due in November, will be the couple's first, but it may not be their last; Baldwin has spoken often of his desire to have a family. Meanwhile, all may end well for Altman; discussions are under way to replace Basinger with Oscar nominee (Tom and Viv) Miranda Richardson.

SEEN & HEARD

It's almost become a First Lady's duty to write a book while in the White House. Barbara Bush gave us Millie's Book, and now HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON will pen It Takes a Village, and Other Lessons Children Teach Us, which should be out in time for Christmas. Mrs. Clinton, who will be assisted by a professional writer, will donate her fees to charity.

TOM CLANCY, author of such thrillers as The Hunt for Red October and Clear and Present Danger, is experiencing some domestic intrigue of his own. His wife of 25 years has filed for a legal separation, claiming desertion and adultery. Wanda Clancy says her husband is having an affair with an assistant district attorney from the Bronx, New York.

One Moor Time

Orson Welles and Laurence Olivier have done it, but no black man has ever acted Othello in a major movie. Now LAURENCE FISHBURNE is close to signing on to play Shakespeare's Moor in a version directed by Kenneth Branagh. Some actors, given current sensitivities, might balk at playing theater's most famous wife killer, especially if they had won renown as bad husband Ike Turner in What's Love Got to Do with It? But at least this time Fishburne won't have to wear mean purple bell-bottoms.

Down at Michael's Place

MICHAEL JACKSON'S new album, the preciously titled HIStory, Past, Present & Future-Book 1, is not due to appear until one minute past midnight on June 20, but the publicity drumbeat-and the rejuvenation of Jackson's career after allegations of child abuse-has already begun. America's reigning odd couple, Jackson and wife LISA MARIE PRESLEY-JACKSON, had 46 children from around the globe (and a few journalists) over to his California home, Neverland, for three days of seminars on the world's problems. And a steam-train ride around the grounds.