During a break, Mr. North's senior adviser admits he tries to concoct "the daily sideshow."

As for the economic security council, Mr. Clinton's advisers admit they have not figured out its exact structure and scope.

Neither Mr. Christopher nor his senior advisers admit outright that their strategy of embracing rather than isolating the Chinese has failed.

Now a former associate of Mr. Sharpton has charged publicly, and presumably in the grand jury, that the adviser admitted he didn't believe any crime occurred.

Television is not kind to the president-elect, his own advisers admit.

But if pushed a bit, advisers admit there is some room for tax maneuvers within the confines of an investment plan.

But the President's advisers admit the decision holds risks.

He had an important adviser, the billionaire Warren E. Buffett, admit that he thought property taxes should be increased.

But the advisers subsequently admitted that they had based this estimate solely on figures supplied by British Telecom.

His advisers were stunned, but later admitted he was right.