Ad Using Clinton Irritates Officials

White House officials are not happy about a full-page newspaper advertisement showing President Clinton in an ad for physical therapists. “Could physical therapy help you?” the ad asks.

The ad, run by the American Physical Therapy Association in USA Today, shows Clinton in a wheelchair after knee surgery, on crutches and then walking normally. “Now, after a little more than two months of treatment by physical therapists, Bill Clinton is walking again. Looking good, Mr. President,” it said. “Could physical therapy help you?”

Actually, the president is using a cane these days.

“It’s against White House policy to use the image of the president for the endorsement of a product, regardless of its merits,” presidential spokeswoman April Mellody said.