An estimated one-third of Americans newly diagnosed with AIDS have been infected because of contaminated needles or sex with an addict.

White House AIDS Policy Director Sandra Thurman, who attended Miss America's AIDS event, said she believed Ms. Shindle to have "a profound understanding of the issues". The Director predicted that Miss America's high visibility would allow her to reach people who have not otherwise gotten the word on how HIV is spread and how the risk of infection can be sharply reduced. "She is a Miss America," said Ms. Thurman, "who is truly worthy of the title."

The pageant winner addressed an assembly of legislators, policymakers, and leaders of national AIDS organizations, Clinton Administration officials and AIDS researchers.

She stood against a backdrop of the AIDS Memorial Quilt she'd previously helped to display.

"The decision to confront our inhibitions head-on is never an easy one," she told her audience, "but while we bide our time and weigh our options people are dying."

She promised that during her travels across the nation as Miss America she would focus her energies "where the virus is spreading fastest—among racial minorities, women and especially among young people."

"Two roads in my life met this year," she told her Capitol Hill listeners, "As an AIDS volunteer pursuing the title of Miss America, I recognized the possibility for my personal commitment to touch the lives of young people nationwide. I also saw an opportunity to turn the spotlight where I felt it was needed most—on HIV prevention…. I will speak to my generation. I will direct the Miss America spotlight away from myself and toward their overwhelming need for HIV prevention. I will work to insure that all young people can confidently make educated choices, and empower them to respect themselves, believe in themselves and protect themselves. "

Almost simultaneously, members of Clinton's Presidential Advisory Council on AIDS threatened resignation, claiming as have ACT UP members nationwide, that the Administration lacks the political guts to tackle the AIDS emergency head-on.

Not only are they perturbed by the president's refusal to pass on clean needle distributions which have been demonstrated successful in stemming the deadly virus, but Medicaid coverage of HIV patients is also stalled and the Administration has done nothing to lift restrictions on HIV-educational materials."

The resignation threats on the AIDS council, according to Dr. Scott Hitt, chair of the 30-member group, are "fairly serious…its not like we're asking for pie-in-the-sky or perfection in this, but there are a few basic things that need to be done," he said.

"Somebody up there is thinking more about politics than health," said council member Robert Fogel, a Chicago lawyer and Clinton fund-raiser. Fogel is leading the protest against political sluggishness in top echelons in the midst of a crisis wherein nearly a million American lives seem to politicians to be of little account.

The council is scheduled to release a report in December that will critique the nation's AIDS policies.

"If the President doesn't get real," said an ACT UP sympathizer, "he'll be upstaged by Miss America! She'll be doing his job! And if his own AIDS council quits on him, I just hope she dumps publicly on that Clinton-- big-time."