21.   Bush signaled Friday he likes retired Gen. Colin Powell, a beloved political figure, for secretary of state.

22.   His court appearance enraged most blacks and many whites, who considered it a humiliation of a beloved figure who tried to generate support for rugby among blacks.

23.   In Israel, beleaguered U.S. President Bill Clinton remains a beloved figure.

24.   He was not always as beloved a figure as he has become in recent months, however.

25.   But the former irascible federal prosecutor was not always as beloved a figure as he has become in recent months.