Surprisingly, these have become the crucial issues in the fight over his confirmation.

Two weeks before senators begin questioning the Supreme Court nominee, John G. Roberts Jr., the debate over his confirmation is becoming a test of Senate Democrats as well.

The issue of whether Dr. Foster attended the 1969 meeting may be crucial in shaping the debate over his confirmation.

As battle lines over Mr. Ashcroft's confirmation firmed up, a coalition of conservative women defended the former senator today from what one woman called a "sneer and smear campaign" by liberals.

During the battle over his confirmation, the special deputy prosecutor he appointed announced a separate indictment of the two troopers on charges of falsifying official records.

Even as the tumult over his confirmation has swirled about him, Mr. Tower has been proceeding with that review.

The President has sharply criticized Congress before, most notably in a Washington speech last month after the seamy battle over Judge Clarence Thomas's confirmation to the Supreme Court.

"I came of age politically during the 1968 fight over Fortas's confirmation," Mr. Murphy, who is now 36 years old, said in a telephone interview.

The Justice Department said groups opposing Bork have compiled analyses that "should be dismissed for the propaganda that they are and should not confuse the debate over Judge Bork's confirmation."

Senator Anderson found an ally in McGee on the Senate Commerce Committee, which had jurisdiction over Mr. Strauss' confirmation.