Flustered administration officials could raise objections only through statements distributed to reporters.

Mr. Meriwether's comments came in a statement distributed to reporters; he did not answer questions.

"Such things have taken place many times," read a statement distributed by the marchers.

It came instead in a three-page statement distributed by his press office at 6:02 P.M., almost too late to make the evening television news.

"I am very sick," he said in a statement distributed by opponents of the cuts.

"I made some inappropriate remarks," he told the teachers, according to a statement distributed to reporters, who were barred from the meeting.

Dr. Pons refused to answer most questions from reporters today, referring them to a statement distributed by his lawyer.

The next day, in a statement distributed to South Carolina reporters, he reversed himself and called the flag "a symbol of heritage."

Mr. Tomlinson, in a statement distributed with the report, rejected its conclusions.

The sister, Denise Brown, went public with her complaint in a written statement distributed to reporters.