Although the review mentioned that Mrs. Clinton had taken an interest in accusations of mismanagement at the travel office, it portrayed her in a passive light. It said she had been informed, two days before the President, that the travel staff was to be dismissed.

The G.A.O. report includes a more detailed account of her role by Mr. Watkins, an assistant to the President who oversees the travel office. It said that on May 14 Mr. Watkins briefed Mrs. Clinton about an accounting investigation into the office that indicated mismanagement.

"He said that she urged that action be taken to get 'our people' into the travel office to help achieve the 25 percent White House staff cut," the report said. "According to Mr. Watkins, the First Lady also mentioned, in the context of the travel office, that the Administration had been criticized for being slow in making appointments."

In a footnote, the report added that Mrs. Clinton, in written responses to G.A.O inquiries, said she did "not recall this conversation with the same level of detail as Mr. Watkins." She acknowledged that she had a "very short telephone call with Mr. Watkins" and that he conveyed to her that "his office was taking appropriate action."

Asked today why the report by the accounting office included new information about Mrs. Clinton's involvement, Mark D. Gearan, the White House communications director, said: "Our review was a 30-day management report. The G.A.O.'s was a 9-month detailed investigation."

Mr. Gearan said that as part of the White House's review Mrs. Clinton had responded to written questions. Faulting Three People

The accounting office report made no significant mention of the President, who accepted responsibility for the affair last year.