declaring his innocence and accusing her of subverting american democracy. at the same time, democrats were laying the groundwork for tomorrow's showdown on the floor of the house. our team is standing by across the nation's capital tonight, and we're going to begin with our chief washington forrespondent, major garrett, t,o is at the white house. major, the president and the white house decided not to participate in or send lawyers to defend him during the inquiry. why this letter at the 11th hour? po reporter: you know, norah, h,e president startled people here, announcing he wanted to draft a letter lashing out at house speaker nancy pelosi and defend his legacy. some advisers urged the president instead to emphasize recent accomplishments on trade, defense spending, other issues. the president added those items to the letter but saved by far his harshest and most headline- rsabbing rhetoric for attacks on nancy pelosi. sie six-page leath had the seething, ranting format of a residential speech, sent to