Clinton, Jackson Together but Still at Arm’s Length : Democrats: Arkansas governor calls their talk ‘wonderful,’ but he fails to get an endorsement. It was the first joint appearance since a spat in February.

KANSAS CITY —  Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton and the Rev. Jesse Jackson smiled for the cameras here Saturday, but their first joint appearance since a highly publicized spat earlier this year was something short of a full embrace.

Clinton, this year’s presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, and Jackson, who mobilized legions of black voters in his 1984 and 1988 presidential campaigns, met in private and then held a brief news conference at the hotel where both were visiting the National Conference of Black Mayors.

Clinton termed their conversation “wonderful.” He added: “We’ve been friends for a long time . . . and will continue to talk.”

Jackson repeated his intention to wait until the party’s July convention to endorse a candidate, even though only Clinton and former California Gov. Edmund G. (Jerry) Brown Jr. remain in the race.

He also steered clear of any discussion of Clinton’s qualifications or platform. But Jackson did allow that Americans “need a new President, and we need a new direction.”

The two men’s relationship was strained in late February when Clinton criticized Jackson in response to an inaccurate news report that the civil rights leader had endorsed Iowa Sen. Tom Harkin in the presidential race. Saturday’s meeting was the pair’s first in-person meeting since then, although they have spoken by telephone, said Dee Dee Myers, Clinton’s press secretary.

The two men said they did not discuss politics during their meeting but went over a number of policy issues, including urban infrastructure, crime, the economy, and the District of Columbia’s drive for statehood.

In comments to the press earlier Saturday, Jackson faulted this year’s crop of Democratic presidential contenders for failing to give enough attention to the problems of cities.

At their press conference, Jackson did not respond when asked why he was not now joining other Democratic leaders who increasingly are rallying around Clinton to help the expected nominee prepare for the fall election.

Notwithstanding Jackson’s reluctance, others continued to jump on the Clinton bandwagon. Those endorsing him Saturday included South Carolina Sen. Ernest F. Hollings and an influential group of black pastors in Philadelphia.

The backing Clinton received from the Black Clergy of Philadelphia and Vicinity is expected to further boost his chances in Tuesday’s Pennsylvania primary. Polls have shown him with a solid lead in the state.

Brown on Saturday took his bid to derail Clinton to the site of a proposed toxic waste incinerator in Ohio, just west of its border with Pennsylvania. During his appearance, he sought to dramatize his differences with Clinton on environmental issues.

Drawing enthusiastic applause from local residents, Brown compared the strict environmental laws in California to the situation in Arkansas, where he said rivers are polluted “with chicken fecal matter from the campaign contributors of my opponent.”

Brown said: “There cannot be any clearer difference between (Clinton) and myself than on the environment.”

Times staff writer Art Pine contributed to this story.