51.   Aides to Bush said Monday that they do not expect an antitrust chief to be named until after the confirmation hearings of Ashcroft as Attorney General.

52.   Breyer said at his confirmation hearings that he considers law in both areas to be settled by Supreme Court precedents.

53.   Bush, who said he learned of the case Sunday night, defended Chavez even as he acknowledged that she would face tough questions in her Senate confirmation hearings.

54.   Bush said Senate confirmation hearings had become too partisan.

55.   But Bush acknowledged that he expects Ashcroft to face tough questioning on civil rights issues in his Senate confirmation hearing Tuesday.

56.   But he has yet to have his confirmation hearing and, therefore, is not yet officially on the job.

57.   But he is to return by Monday and is expected to say little in public while preparing for his confirmation hearings.

58.   But many presidents have been forced to withdraw some nominations for top posts in the face of policy disputes or controversies that erupt during Senate confirmation hearings.

59.   But on Wednesday, when he appears at his confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Ziglar could face a firestorm.

60.   But Richardson had promised the Senate during his confirmation hearings not to interfere with Cox.