Even his closest advisers worried that a major air disaster might result from the wholesale replacement of striking controllers.
The president's advisers worried that the blockade was failing; a U-2 surveillance pilot had been shot down over Cuba; the missiles were becoming operational.
The strategy aims to remedy several problems that Mr. Clinton's advisers and their friends in the labor movement have long worried about.
Now his closest friends and advisers are worrying about something else.
Gore's advisers in the 2000 campaign worried that he would commit political suicide by global warming.
In private, some top advisers worry that the cumulative effect hurts Washington's ability to rally its allies and undercuts its reputation as a reliable trading partner.
Some advisers worried about whether Mr. Clinton's voice would hold out after a four-day train ride with as many as five full rally speeches a day.
But some advisers worry that real estate funds may be overvalued.
Some advisers worried that his President-turned-politician attack would backfire.
And some independent advisers worry that less-affluent investors may not receive as much personal attention as those with millions to invest.