The Teamsters Union, anxious to free itself from 14 years of government supervision, has hired the prestigious Washington lobbying firm of Patton Boggs to try to end the federal consent decree.

The union's insiders had hoped Teamsters President James Hoffa's support for Bush on several issues would help end the government monitoring of alleged corruption and mob influence in the union. However, the White House has been unable to help, and Hoffa's relations with Bush have cooled as he vigorously boosts Democratic Rep. Richard Gephardt for president.

Patton Boggs, which has had experience in representing other unions trying to shed criminal influences, is headed by super-lobbyist Tommy Boggs. His parents were powerful Democrats in Congress. Robert D. Luskin, who is the Patton Boggs expert lawyer on white-collar crime and union corruption, will handle the Teamsters' account