Insight, April 22, 1996:

Bernice Harris is back at work in one of Capitol Hill's basement coffee shops after a week of exile, thanks to charges of sexual harassment. Harris, 58, has put in 30 years on the job and plans to retire in May.

The flap developed because Harris likes to refer to her customers as "Baby" and sometimes "Babycakes" or "Sugar." Most customers seem to respond as does Karen Gravois, a Hill aide who describes Harris as "a burst of sunshine, a friendly, wonderful, lovely woman."

But Christopher Held, a part-time aide to Sen. Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, complained to his office manager and wrote Harris a letter saying he felt uncomfortable being called "Baby" and suggested it could be sexual harassment.

Harris' supervisors moved her out of the shop, but reconsidered in response to a big show of support from customers....

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