Today's appointments of two top officials from the 1970's and of a Clinton associate suggest that she has yet to put a personal stamp on the department.

Heavy media attention forced the White House to reinstate most of the employees in other jobs and remove the Clinton associates from the travel role.

"Nothing's forcing Clinton to react," a Clinton associate said.

One Clinton associate said the commission would work against a tight deadline.

The meetings, which took place on Saturday and Sunday, were described by close Clinton associates as informal and involving only some aides.

Another Clinton associate said that if the case had been settled, "no one would know who Monica Lewinsky was."

The form - put together, according to Clinton associates, with assistance from Mrs. Clinton - left out the $100,000 still owed on the 1990 loans.

"They've done a very poor job of explaining it," one Clinton associate said today, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Clinton associates say that the source of Ms. Solis Doyle's power is plain.

In times of trouble, the Riady family stepped in to help other Clinton associates.