> ddd (2.1.1 i386-suse-linux-gnu) works most of the time for me. Other
> software versions: gcc 2.8.1, qt 1.40, kde 1.0 (all compiled here).

ddd is at 3.1.5 and I do not remember having seen the bug you describe.
lesstif has been improved much over the years so I suggest at least 
trying a newer version.

Frank