There has been no confirmation conversion.

Some have termed the statements made by John Ashcroft at the hearing a "confirmation conversion," "a metamorphosis."

"Let me speak to the issue of confirmation conversion, which I think is quite wrong," he said to Senator Specter.

Judicial nominees are often accused of undergoing "confirmation conversions," backing away from controversial stands to win Senate support.

Senator Heflin of Alabama, for one, seemed to think Judge Bork was misrepresenting his own record, in a "confirmation conversion."

Was this "confirmation conversion?"

The Discrimination Issue Judge Bork and his defenders indignantly denied charges of "confirmation conversions."

His changes of position looked like 'confirmation conversion,' and after long dialogues, it was unclear where he stood.

Such a "confirmation conversion," he warned, could raise serious questions about Judge Thomas's integrity.

"We are somethat left in a quandary as to whether there is some confirmation conversion taking place here," Senator Heflin said.