WASHINGTON - U.S. Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales is preparing for two Capitol Hill appearances during which he'll be fighting for his job.

Sources told The Washington Post that Gonzales has withdrawn from public view and canceled a family vacation as he readies for appearances before the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee on April 12 and the Senate Judiciary Committee on April 17.

Gonzales is under fire for allegedly underplaying his role to Congress in the dismissals last year of eight U.S. attorneys. Some members -- from both parties -- have suggested that the president fire Gonzales.

The Post said that Gonzales' tone will be set by ranking Judiciary Committee member U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., who has suggested Gonzales begin his testimony by apologizing.

Aides also told the Post that Gonzales' preparations have been complicated by his inability to rely on aides at his agency or the White House who also might testify on the firings.

"We are hampered because some senior officials are not able to discuss the facts as they know them in the same room, for fears of additional accusations of misleading Congress," a Justice Department official told the newspaper.

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