On the surface, the debate on the Senate floor was over the troubled nomination of Dr. Henry W. Foster Jr. as Surgeon General.

Frederica Massiah-Jackson, a local judge in Philadelphia, tried today to salvage her troubled nomination to be a Federal judge at an extraordinary Senate hearing.

On Monday, he withdrew the troubled nomination of Robert M. Gates as Director of Central Intelligence.

But with the withdrawal of Mr. Miller and because of other troubled nominations, that goal may now be out of reach.

In the lawsuit, Spencer accused Getchell of shifting blame "in hopes of salvaging a troubled nomination to the federal bench."

Mr. Lichter explained the coverage of Dr. Foster by saying that the Administration had succeeded in getting its positive spin on the troubled nomination on the air.

As the Senate begins its debate this week on Judge Bork's troubled nomination, Mr. Reynolds is already laying the ground work for the next nominee, albeit as inconspiciously as possible.

A20 President Reagan wants a vote by the Senate this week on the gravely troubled nomination of Judge Robert H. Bork.

President Reagan said today that he wanted the Senate to vote this week on the gravely troubled nomination of Judge Robert H. Bork to the Supreme Court.

While other stories recounted a troubled Presidential nomination or a major airline strike, the home repair article brought back the sweet memories of working with Dad.