GRAPEVINE

By DAVID ELLIS

Is House Speaker Tom Foley offering more than just moral support for a Dick Gephardt presidential run? Last week the Missouri Congressman got a surprise boost from Foley, who said he "would have no objection or concern about" the majority leader retaining his House post while making a bid for the presidency. This reduces the political gamble for Gephardt by keeping his seat warm in case he loses the nomination. Moreover, Foley's endorsement gives Gephardt an excuse to back away from the pledge he made in 1989, when running for the leadership post, that he would not seek the White House in 1992.

With reporting by Sidney Urquhart