PRESIDENT CLINTON takes four drugs daily but enjoys good health, according to a detailed medical report released after pressure from his Republican opponent, Mr Bob Dole.
The President's health flared into a political issue last week when reporters took up Mr Dole's queries and pressed the White House for a full disclosure of Mr Clinton's health records. The press secretary, Mr Mike McCurry, was angered when he was asked if the President was concealing something and whether he was being treated for a sexually transmitted disease.
Late on Friday after the TV network news programmes, the White House released statements on the President's health from the senior physician, Dr E. Connie Mariano, and seven other doctors for different specialities.
Dr Mariano's four page summary and the brief letters from the other doctors do not include actual medical records, such as the ones Mr Dole released to the media.
The data released show Mr Clinton has no history of high blood pressure, diabetes, tuberculosis, sexually transmitted disease, cancer, stroke or heart disease. He suffers from mild hearing loss, hoarseness and lower back pain.
Mr Clinton takes four drugs daily. These are for stomach acidity and an allergy and include a nasal spray and a multi vitamin tablet. He also has occasional treatment for adult acne affecting his nose. Two weeks ago a benign cyst was removed from his neck.
The President tested negative for HIV in 1990 and has not been tested since, although as the New York Times medical correspondent notes, Mr Clinton is commander in chief and periodic HIV tests are required of military personnel.
Commenting on these details, the White House said the mild deafness might be due to gunshots on boyhood hunting trips. The HIV test was in connection with an insurance policy.
A spokeswoman for Mr Dole said, however, the President had still not released full medical records. "The $64,000 question is what didn't the White House release yesterday," said Ms Christina Martin. "What was it that was so embarrassing that the White House refused to release these records, if complete, to the American public?"
Mr McCurry said primary records were not released because some would be embarrassing, citing pictures of Mr Clinton's inflamed vocal chords. But he insisted he had released more details about his health than Mr Dole or any other President.
Mr Dole had said last week, "Let's have your health records, Mr President. I gave all of mine. Let's have yours." He added, "I'm in great shape. My cholesterol is lower than his. My weight is lower. My blood pressure is lower. But I'm not going to make health an issue in this campaign."