San Diego (special) --Members of San Diego's Jewish community were very much in evidence at a May 16 fundraising party with President Bill Clinton in La Jolla. The luncheon affair at times was light-hearted and at times soberingly serious, according to Murray Galinson, who attended with his wife, Elaine.

Among other Jewish attendees were the host and hostess, Qualcomm founder Irwin and Joan Jacobs; Rep. Bob Filner (D-San Diego) and his wife, Jane; Qualcomm Vice Chairman Andrew Viterbi and his wife, Erna; numerous sons and relatives of the Jacobs; Arthur and Sophie Brody; Charles and Alberta Feurzeig; Stan and Pauline Foster; Ben and Sherry Kelts, and Matt and Iris Straus.

The home looks out on a rolling panorama above the Pacific Ocean -- a beautiful sight made even more interesting by the presence of San Diego police officers patrolling the back hills on horseback.

Clinton, looking out on the scene, told the attendees who had donated $10,000 per couple to support the Democratic party that he could not help contrast such beauty, and such comfortable surroundings, with the plight of the refugees from Kosovo. 

He said he is aware of the criticism of NATO's American-led bombing campaign against Serbia, but said that when it comes to resisting the Serbian policy of "ethnic cleansing," he would rather explain why America got involved, then why it did not.

The President told the audience that more Democrats are needed in Congress to support his domestic programs, including gun control which has once again come to the top of the American agenda in the wake of the killing spree at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colo.

Galinson said he understood about $300,000 was raised by the event at which guests mingled with the President in the Jacobs' sunken living room. 

"He put everybody at ease," Galinson said. "When he spoke to Elaine and me, he remembered that we had been back in Washington recently and had been introduced to him by Vice President Al Gore."

The President moved from couple to couple, posing for many photographs before the speeches were given.

Filner was the first to speak, telling the President that he and host Irwin Jacobs had a lot in common. They both went to Cornell University. They both went on to get their doctorates. They both became professors at universities in San Diego -- Filner at SDSU and Jacobs at UCSD. But then, Filner said, Jacobs went on to become a very successful businessman while he went onto Congress. However, Filner added, three out of four similarities aren't bad.

Jacobs said that while he had been an admirer of Clinton, he nevertheless was upset in 1992 when Clinton first was elected as President. Jacobs explained it was the first time anyone had been elected as President who actually was younger than he.

Near the Jacobs' home, demonstrators held up signs advocating a number of causes for Clinton to see from his motorcade. Perhaps the most noticeable of the signs were those advocating the pro-life, anti-abortion viewpoint, according to Galinson.

As the President was returning from La Jolla to the Miramar Marine Corps Air Station to board Air Force One for the next leg of his western states fundraising tour, Galinson noted that a black van near the Jacobs' home was receiving a jump start--and that the driver had a frantic expression on his face. 

Because Galinson once had served as deputy campaign manager in the presidential campaign of former Vice President Walter Mondale, he recognized the vehicle as a presidential communications van. 

Once the van's battery was revived, the driver switched on his lights and sirens in order to catch up with the motorcade, Galinson said.