His confidence always failed at the last moment because of his own sorry record as a family man.

For a long time, excuses were made and the sorry record veiled.

They have a very sorry record on border security.

This sorry record has little to do with health care.

Yet the inadequacy of this sorry record could not take away the fact of his learning.

Mr. Clinton could start quickly to reverse this sorry record.

Always, the negatives are brought up, such as the club's sorry December record of 8-27 going back to 1986.

Underlying these questions is the sorry record of company, federal and state officials responsible for miners' safety.

"If you've got a sorry record, you could be dressed to kill and it won't matter," he said.

Until now, the industry's greatest obstacle has been its own sorry record.