This figure includes transportation, entertainment, travel and $459,000 in salaries for a 20-person staff that includes a dresser, a driver, a secretary and a $44,900-a-year press spokeswoman.

Mr. Carter was unavailable for comment, according to Melissa Montgomery, his press spokeswoman, who was reached by telephone.

Through a press spokeswoman, Martina Nicholson, Netcare has denied conscious involvement in any wrongdoing.

Sotheby's press spokeswoman, Diana Levitt said: "It is a decision made by the Modern.

He described the term "scheduling conflict" as diplomatic language used by his press spokeswoman, Marilyn Mode.

Rachel Kunzler, the Senator's press spokeswoman, said yesterday: "He pushed her to take the purse.

When asked last week who was challenging Ms. Velazquez, her press spokeswoman, Pat Lynch, said she did not even know.

Most of them, however, managed to do it without bringing along their own press spokeswoman.

But Mr. Clinton's press spokeswoman later said the Administration's policy of grudging compliance with the embargo is unchanged.

"She had an editorial board meeting that we couldn't schedule around," said her press spokeswoman, Amy Pritchard.