Frank Won't Resign Congressional Seat

Two days after publicly apologizing to political supporters for his involvement with a male prostitute, U.S. Rep. Barney Frank '61 ruled out retirement from the House of Representatives in the wake of allegations of personal misconduct.

In Cambridge to speak at the Harvard Hillel, the embattled representative yesterday told a questioner, "I'm not retiring [from the House]" upon leaving the building. Frank, who is awaiting a House Ethics Committee inquiry, said earlier this week that he would not resign pending that committee's investigation.

Frank, a five-term southern Massachusetts representative, has faced a storm of criticism of his 18-month involvement with Stephen L. Gobie, a Washington prostitute. Gobie has said that he operated a prostitution ring out of Frank's Capitol Hill apartment.

Frank admitted paying Gobie for sex and subsequently hiring him as a personal assistant and driver, but he said that he fired Gobie when he learned about the prostitution ring. This firing took place in 1987, shortly before Frank publicly disclosed that he was gay.

Many observers, including the Boston Globe, have openly suggested that Frank resign to protect the gay community. Frank had been one of that group's most articulate supporters.

Speaking yesterday afternoon at the Hillel about American Jewish voting patterns, Frank appeared relaxed, confident and eager to return to normal legislative duties. During the speech, there was no mention of Gobie or the related House inquiry.

Instead, Frank exhibited characteristic wit and unbending liberal opinion while addressing a variety of issues of Jewish and general interest.

"Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell have much more influence over Republicans than Jesse Jackson does over Democrats," Frank said, warning of the political influence of the fundamentalist Christian leaders.

"After all, the Democratic party completely rejected Jackson's Middle East platform. However, Supreme Court justices have to be acceptable to Falwell and Robertson."

Before leveling a long list of criticisms against the Bush Administration's policies, Frank reaffirmed political ties between American Jews and Blacks.

"There is still a very strong alliance between the two groups. Blacks in the House of Representatives generally vote overwhelmingly to support Israel," he said. "The argument that Blacks and their leaders are assaulting Israel is simply untrue."

Audience response to Frank's speech was generally positive. "I think what he was doing, speaking to constituents, has a very positive effect--politically, it's the smart thing to do," said Alexander Vasilyonok, a Cambridge resident who heard Frank's speech.

"Frank was able to give an impression of being unaffected, as if nothing had happened," said Vasilyonok.

"Congressman Frank showed what an extremely articulate person he is," said Eliot Z. Fishman '92, who interned in Frank's Washington office this past summer.

"While I don't necessarily agree with some of his views, I'm glad that there is someone as intelligent and engaged as he is to represent those views. I hope that his indiscretions, although indiscrete, do not prevent him from being a productive member of Congress," Fishman said.