Bye-Bye, Barry

Until federal agents and local police enticed him into smoking crack cocaine with a former girlfriend in a hotel room last January, Marion Barry had a grip on Washington's city hall that seemed so secure that he was referred to as "mayor for life." But last week, in the midst of jury selection for his trial on drug-possession and perjury charges, Barry called it quits. To remove the "shadow" of his legal difficulties from the election of his successor, he declared that he would not seek a fourth term. "Many of my supporters and political polls have indicated that if I were to run, I could win," said Barry. "What good does it do to win the battle if in the process I lose my soul?"

Though Barry contended that his decision was "related to my recovery" from an admitted dependence on alcohol and prescription drugs, another motive may have been to strike a deal with U.S. Attorney Jay Stephens. As his trial approached, Barry had gone to increasingly desperate lengths to stir up support among his mostly black constituents. At one point, he accused the Government of not only entrapping him but also actually trying to kill him with a potentially lethal dose of cocaine. He predicted that he could never be convicted because "in this town, all it takes is one juror saying 'I'm not going to convict Marion Barry. I don't care what you say.' "

Two weeks ago, Barry's friend and political ally Jesse Jackson began publicly urging a compromise, in which all but a minor charge against Barry would be dropped in exchange for his resignation. But Stephens has not accepted the offer, perhaps out of concern that such a deal would lend credence to Barry's claim that the case was a racially motivated effort to "politically lynch" a prominent black official. Stephens reportedly continues to insist that Barry plead guilty to at least one felony count, which would probably mean some time in jail.

Barry's trial is set to resume this week. No matter how his legal problems are eventually resolved, he plans to play a major role in Washington affairs. In his speech last week he hinted that his supporters should await his signal before choosing among the five Democrats vying to replace him. "I have a vision for this city," said Barry. Then, borrowing one of Jackson's more memorable lines, he added, "God is not through with me yet."