Souter Sticks to Low Profile in Senate Tour

WASHINGTON —  Supreme Court nominee David H. Souter renewed his low-profile tour of Senate offices today, even ducking a reporter’s question about exiled New York Yankee owner George Steinbrenner.

While chatting briefly with journalists outside one senator’s office, the New Hampshire judge was asked, “Any kind words for George Steinbrenner?”

After laughing heartily, Souter resolutely skirted controversy yet again. “I wouldn’t touch anything that hot,” he replied.

Most of the questions thrown at Souter focused on Monday’s release by People for the American Way, a liberal group that supports abortion rights, of a 1976 brief in which the New Hampshire attorney general’s office referred to abortion as “the killing of unborn children.”

Souter, who was the state attorney general at the time, did not write the brief. And the lawyer who did said today, “I don’t recall him looking at the language, talking to me about the argument or approving any line of argument.”

Today, Souter declined to comment on the brief. Asked if he thought it would play a role in his confirmation hearings, set to begin Sept. 13 before the Senate Judiciary Committee, he answered, “You’ll have to tell me.”

Senators on both sides of the issue say Souter will be asked about abortion during the hearings.

Souter paid courtesy visits today to four senators--Republican Charles E. Grassley of Iowa and Democrats Dennis DeConcini of Arizona, Timothy E. Wirth of Colorado and Daniel Patrick Moynihan of New York.