21.   Most historians and presidential scholars say it is still too early to judge, but preliminary assessments rank him strong on foreign policy and less successful domestically.

22.   Not much, presidential scholars say, because Congress is in no mood to compromise.

23.   President Clinton and the Republican Congress headed toward a threatened shutdo, according to presidential scholars.

24.   Presidential scholar Robert Dallek of the University of California at Los Angeles echoed that sentiment.

25.   Presidential scholars say that Clinton will gain fresh energy from a new White House team as he heads into a second term.

26.   Presidential scholars said Bush would have to face a crucial choice in filling such a vacancy.

27.   Presidential scholars say he has grown in the job, learned to delegate and even to keep to a schedule.

28.   Presidential scholars agreed that Clinton is being subjected to a particularly puritanical standard and unforgiving political culture.

29.   Presidential scholars, for their part, are not sure what the last four years have meant, and where the next four years may lead.

30.   Presidential scholar Kumar of Towson University was among those asked for input more than a year ago.