Gramm's Gumshoe

Washington Outlook: CAPITAL WRAPUP

GRAMM'S GUMSHOE

Republican Presidential candidate Phil Gramm has hired a researcher to investigate...Phil Gramm. The meticulous Texas senator gave Austin operative Duke Bodisch a 40-day contract to inspect the Gramm family laundry, among other missions. Gramm wants to know what documents about his background are available to snooping reporters. In 1992, candidate Bill Clinton commissioned a similar effort--which did little to ease his later woes from character issues.EDITED BY OWEN ULLMANN