Clinton, who gave up his House lobbying effort, plans to issue a public plea for a "national healing" and a quick end to the crisis in a Rose Garden appearance with Democratic leaders after the vote, White House and congressional sources said.

The First Lady, who has kept a low profile recently, will go to Capitol Hill to meet with Democrats to thank them for their support, the White House said.

With American troops still engaged in the biggest American bombing campaign since the Persian Gulf War, lawmakers spent yesterday debating - not Iraq - but Clinton's Sexgate misdeeds.

During 12 hours of debate, Republicans accused Clinton of jeopardizing "the rule of law" by telling fibs to a federal prosecutor.

Democrats countered that Clinton was a victim of a GOP "witch hunt" and complained impeachment was too drastic a solution for punishing a president who lied about a consensual affair.

Rep. Nita Lowey, (D-Westchester), labeled independent counsel Kenneth Starr "dangerous and misguided" and compared the looming impeachment vote to a military coup.

"Not all coups are accompanied by the sound of tanks and marching boots," said Lowey, whose anger was shared by Democrats who labored in vain yesterday to derail today's vote.

Debate was to resume at 10 this morning, with a vote possible as early as 11.

"In your effort to uphold the Constitution, you are trampling the Constitution," House Democratic Leader Richard Gephardt (D-Mo.) said, in remarks directed at the Republicans.

"We are considering articles of impeachment that allege an abuse of power. We have an obligation not to abuse our power.'

But Rep. Sam Johnson, (R-Texas) a former prisoner of war, said Clinton's actions "made a mockery of the people who fought for this country and are fighting for this nation today."

And House Judiciary Chairman Henry Hyde, (R-Ill.), who will oversee the Senate trial of Clinton if the impeachment resolution is approved, said Clinton sought to put himself above the law.

"No man or woman, no matter how highly placed, no matter how effective a communicator, no matter how gifted a manipulator of opinion or winner of votes, can be above the law in a democracy," said Hyde.

The charges against Clinton are:

*He committed perjury before a grand jury.

*He committed perjury in the Paula Jones case.

*He obstructed justice.

*He abused his presidential powers by giving wishy-washy answers to 10 of 81 questions posed by Hyde's committee.

Yesterday's debate began with House Clerk Paul Hays reading from the impeachment resolution, which was included in a detailed 406-page summary of the charges facing Clinton.

A few lawmakers flipped though the Judiciary Committee report while waiting on the House floor for their turn to speak.

"Resolved, that William Jefferson Clinton, president of the United States, is impeached for high crimes and misdemeanors," Hays read. "William Jefferson Clinton ... warrants impeachment and trial and removal from office and disqualification to hold and enjoy any office of honor, trust, or profit under the United States."

Only once before has the House voted to impeach a president - Andrew Johnson in 1868. Johnson was acquitted by a single vote in a Senate trial, but Clinton seems almost certain to join that infamous list today.

One more Democrat - Charles Stenholm of Texas - decided to cross party lines and vote for impeachment.

For part of the day, Democrats tried to convince Republicans to allow a vote on censure, which Clinton aides are pushing as a less-disruptive alternative to impeachment.

"Impeachment is not the answer to this challenge" of determining a punishment for Clinton, said Rep. Tony Hall, a Democrat from Ohio who favors censure.

Republicans countered that censure, if an option, should be exercised by the Senate, not the House.

Clinton kept a low profile, continuing with his strategy of ignoring the proceedings and focusing on his presidential duties.

With the impeachment articles ready to trigger a Senate trial, House lawmakers readied themselves for proceedings that could run anywhere from a few weeks to months.

Hyde told the Post that he's already tapped 13 Republican House members to help him prosecute the case in the Senate, including Reps. James Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.), Charles Canady (R-Fla.) and Bob Barr (R-Ga.).

With impeachment looking more and more likely, both Democrats and Republicans appeared willing to discuss the president's resignation.

"I think that resigning is something that he should consider because his effectiveness would be reduced," said Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-N.Y.).

Other lawmakers, however, predicted that Clinton won't leave.

"He's not resigning. That's not in his DNA," said Rep. Nancy Pelosi, (D-Calif.)

-- Midknight - 12/19/98