EDITOR'S TABLE OF CONTENTS COWMN

he 1988 election has now boiled EDITOR'S COLUMN, •• , •• ,., ...... •. ...•.•....• . , ..•.•.. . •. 2 down to two candidates-George T Bush and Michael Dukakis-and PROFILES AND PERSPECTIVES, in the coming months they will select their A Conversation with David Eisenhower...... 3 running mates and pronounce their ideas on America's future. We decided it was EDITORIAL: A Guide to the '88 Republican Presidential Camptlign 8 time to offer George Bush advice on both. A Forum editorial provides thoughts A CONSTRUCTIVE, PEOPLE·ORIENTED PLATFORM, on running males, and claims that the vice A Guide to New Ideas That George Bush Should Not Overlook: president must look for someone with ex· Dale Edward Curtis . . . . •..••.••••.•.•..• . •.•• . ...•...... 10 citement and/or the common touch. A piece by Forum associate editor Dale DEAR GEORGE: Youthful Insights Into the 1988 Presidential Race . .. . . U Curtis summarizes a variety of platfonn ideas, none of which should provoke New GEORGE BUSH AND HIS CLASS PROBLEM, Right hysteria. Even jf they do, that's the William P. McKenzie • . . • . . . . • ...... • . . • . . • . . • . • . . • • .• 13 Right's problem. The themes are filled with common sense, offered by main­ AN OPEN LETTER TO THE VICE PRESIDENT, stream Republicans and ones that the vice John W. Sears ...... • . • . . • • . • . • • . • . • . • • . • ...... 14 president must consider if he is to offer a comprehensive vision of the future. WHEN THE SAINTS GOING MARCHING IN-TO MICHIGAN: In somewhat of a coup, we present Tim Pope and Brian Bamier . •. . •...... •.••..•..... • . 16 portions of correspondence between Re­ publican Senator Daniel Evans and Vice REVIEWS:The Closing of The American Mind: Allan Bloom: President Bush. The letters were initiated Alfred W. Thte. • . . • . • ...... • . . • . • • . . • . • • . . • • . . . . •. 18 by Evans, after his staff met to discuss how the vice president could improve his image THE CHAIRMAN'S CORNER: and message. Since most of the Evans staff George Bush and Iran-Gate: The Last Word: is under 35, the ideas are related [0 the Jim Leach •.•..•.•.••... . • . .. . •...... •. , ..•.•. , . . . .. 20 future. Also, the last Republican to run against Michael Dukakis- John Sears, 6 LIBRARY COURT ...... • . . . • . . • . • . . • . • • . • . • . . • . • . . • .. 22 who ran for governor of Massachusetts in 1982- writes an "open letter" to hi s WASHINGTON NOTES AND QUOTES ...... • ...... •. .. . •. . ... 24 friend George Bush. He urges the promo­ tion of a Bush Agenda, and provides some ideas on how to use that agenda in the Fall. In his column, Ripon Society chainnan Jim Leach claims that members of the press are right to consider iran-contra a scandal of judgment, but wrong to think that George Bush should be held liable for it. As Leach writes, the other scandal in Washington may be that of press perspec- live. Historian David Eisenhower also pro­ RIPON forum vides unique insights into this election. In f:diuN: William P. Mc Konzic creati ~ e critici.m and innovalion in !he ViJ!; ta and othc:r volunteers. O>erseas. his interview in the Forum, Eisenhower .4uotiau f:diuN: Dale E. Cuni. Republican Party. ManuSl' ripts a nd add $6. Please allow the ...... ks for says that the 1988 election reminds him of .4nulIlIU EtIiIM: Barry S. Edwards pholograpl>s are solicilCd. but do no( address changes. the 1940 election. Voters then wanted con­ £tIitori..J Boord; ~n t !he vie .... s of !he Society un· Tem:nce M. O'Sullivan less 50 .talCd. The Ripoo Society 11lC .• Marte E. Un­ tinuity and sent Franklin Roosevelt back to Alfred W. TalC SIC""" B. Klinsky capher. president. is I ~publiean reo the White House. Of course, whether that Gem E. Meyer Gail L. Slocum ConICnts are copyrighlCd 1988 by !he scuch and poli<;y organization .... hose Duigll CO"""WIIl; R. J. M3t ~ Ripoo Society. hlC .. 6 library Coun. members an: business. IICodcmic. and will occur, no one knows. But the histori­ Art DItmor; Robey Graphks S.E., Washington , D.C. 20003 . professional men and women. II is headquartered in Washington, D.C ., cal unders tandin g provided by RfJtIUl' ~ IlIUm: Mich ...l Reagor Second class postage and fed paid at .... ith Nationa! Associate member. TH E RIPON FORUM (lSN WashinglOl"l. D.C. and additiortal mail· Eisenhower-on foreign policy matters as 1hrougbout!he Unite

2 RJPON FORUM. JUNE /988 PROFILES AND PERSPECTIVES A Conversation with DAVII) EISENHOWER

Ripon Forum: You r grandfather, Dwight military man was elected because he was Eisenhower, served as president of the perceived to be the best equipped to solve United States from 1953-1961. As a histo­ the leftover problems of World War II. rian of his presidency, what do you Russia's capability to build an A-Bomb, consider his most important legacy? the Chinese revolution, and the Chinese attack on Korea left Americans with a Eisenhower : There were two currents at conviction that much was still hanging in work in the 1950s. One was forward-look­ the balance. ing and involved talk about missiles, Another important accomplishment space exploration and control of the as president was building a bipartisan for­ Atomic Bomb. World War II had un­ eign policy. Although he embraced much leashed a technological revolution, and of the New Deal, Eisenhower was a Re­ the United States and its allies were at­ publican and not a closet Democrat. tempting to control, as George Kennan That's been debated because he built a put it, the runaway horse of technology. foreign policy that was supported by even The other current was backward-looking: mOSt Democrats. He was a Republican David Eisenhower occupies a unique how do we resolve the political impasse president in a Democratic era. After he spot in American life. His grandfather, left over from World War II? was relected in 1956, the Eisenhower ad­ D wight Eisenhower, was Supreme Com­ These two currents came together in ministration was very much on the wane. fTl(Jnder of the Allied Forces in World War the high point of the Eisenhower adminis­ The international issues became less im­ /I and the 34th president of the United tration, which was the 1955 Geneva portant and civil rights became the critical States. His father-in·lalY, Riehartl Ni.:mn, Convention. This meeting was the !irst issue. became the 37th presidem of th e United gathering of the Big Three Powers-the Now, in tum , Democrats are today States. Throu gh his family, David U.S., Great Britain, and the Soviet attempting to make Reaganism a biparti­ Eisenhower has directly viewed some of Union-since Potsdam in 1945 . France san policy. The Democratic Leadership the nation's most important eve nts since was asked to attend, but Germany was Council is looking for a moderate who 1952. not, and the meeting, which is relatively will ratify and embrace elements of Reag­ But David Eisenhower's own work as obscure in summit history, let people anism. a historian is becoming increasingly im­ know that the political division left over portant. The first ~'Olu me of his three·\Y}I· from World War U would not be allowed Ripon Forum : You write in your book um e s tudy of his gra n dfa ther, to ignite a hot war between East and West. "Eisenhower At War: 1943- 1945" that it " Eisenhower At War : 1943- 1945 " was At the same time, the summit set the was .. the complex Allied-Soviet relation­ released by Vintage Press in 1986. The tone for the fu ture by discussing how the ship that forced Eisenhower to think as a second volume, which deals with the Big Three plus France would try to har­ politician ." Could you elaborate upon Eisenhower years from /95/-/957, is now ness and control atomic development. that statement? being completed. In this interview at his The fact that those discussions took home in Pennsylvania's Delaware River placo-and all that they implied-was the Eisenhower : He had to look at things as Valley, Eisenhower discusses with Forum culmination of the Eisenhower years. politicians did . The Allies faced a man­ editor Bill McKenzie the effect World War power problem, the key to which was /I had on the current American-Soviet reo Ripon Forum: The summit pointed us sustai ning American energy and willing­ lationship, the legacy of his grandfather'S from the past to the future? ness to fight the war in Europe. The presidency, the meaning of Watergate, the United States almost didn 't get involved modern Republican Party, and 1988 elec­ Eisenhower: Yes, and that is what in the war, but after Roosevelt mobil ized tions. In light of the recent Moscow summit Eisenhower was elected to do. He was a the country Eisenhower had to manage and the upcoming general election , his military hero, but that doesn' t explain the war in a way thaI sustained both the insights provide relevant commentary. why the mi litary man was elected. The Ameri can war effort and the Alliance.

RIPON FORUM , JUNE /988 J Some people think I disparage my geographical objecti ves ror the sake or but mey also have a lot not in common. grandrather's credentials as a military less tangible objecti ves, such as claiming There are differences having to do with strategist by arguing this political thesis. a decisive role in the defeat or Nazi Ger­ lheir times. The tone or the Eisenhower But his military strategy was well-tailored many. Ir we played such a role, then we administration , even down to his rarewell to serve the campaign's political objec­ could influence later events. And this was address, is the restraint or American tives. Certain imperatives had to be met , impossible without rairly close coordina­ pD'o'Ier. We had overwhelming advantages such as building the Alliance, meaning tion with the Soviets, who valued our and Eisenhower urged mutual respect and the Anglo-American Alliance and the Al­ assistance and recogni zed that we would balance ror the sake or converting that lied-Soviet Alliance. His strategies were share mightily in the prestige or liberating temporary advantage to our long- renn tailored to meet Alliance objecti ves-so Europe. benefit. Reagan 's mission in the 1980s long as American rorces advanced to­ In exchange ror that coordination, was not to restrain American power in the wards those objecti ves, victory was lhere 's a logic in the way peace in Europe artennath or victory, but to restore it after assured. unrolds. At the 1943 Teheran Conference, Vietnam. His rhetoric has thererore been the assumption was that American and more aggressive. Ripon Forum: The historian Stephen British troops in Italy wou ld not press into Ambrose, who has also chronicled yo ur Gennany and thus Eastern Europe, that Ripon Forum: Eisenhower as president grandrather's military career, disagrees was aware that lhe Soviets paid a tremen­ with you . He contends that Eisenhower dous price in World War D, namely the was not a political strategist, but ra ther a loss or millions or lives, and that they re­ military strategist. tained a great deal or paranoia about roreign threats. Reagan, on the other Eisenh0\4--er: My thesis is a little different "Eisenhower recognized hand , has been more willing to mani pu­ rrom his. Dr. Ambrose began as a mili­ the crucial role the late the Soviet rear or an outside threat tary historian , and he started wi th my and has been more or a saber-ratt ler. grandrather's military career and worked Soviets would play in on toward his presidency. I began study­ El.sen h0\4--er: That may we ll be true. ing my grandfather's presidency and Europe. He saw how There is something unique about realized that to understand it I had to fi rst Eisenhower that people have not focused understand his military record . The logic important it was to deal on. He is the only World War II European or Eisenhower's position in the war car­ with them and knew the theater veteran who served as president . ried over into his political career. The John Kennedy, Richard Nixon and Gerald question I asked is why did he become trouble they could Ford served in the Pacific, while Ronald president? Reagan served in the Anny Signal Corps cause. " and did not go overseas. Ripon Forum: And the book yo u are The European War was different. In working on now is about Eisenhower's the Pacific, we raced Japan as a united na­ first and second tenns? tion. But Europe involved our civili zation the u.s. and Britain would in vade the and war there was more akin to civi l war. Eisenhower: That's right. The first lenn Continent rrom England . and that Ger­ It also was controversial at the outset in was when the real work takes place, al­ many, attacked rrom the East and West, America. Eisenhower recognized all this though it is during the second tenn that would be unconditi onall y dereated and di­ and knew the crucial role the Soviets granddad becomes more vivid . For the vided. In other words, we would li berate played and would play in Europe. He saw first time, lhings begin to slip away rrom the West and areas where we were going how important it was to deal with them, him. When that happens, you become to stay, and the Russians would liberate and knew the trouble they would cause. more explicit. That is why his speeches the East and areas where they had a vital Parenthetically, Eisenhower spent more from that period are so well remembered . interest. This un rolded like clockwork , on derense as a pereentage or GNP than but cooperation depended upon minimum Reagan has in eight years. Ripon Forum: Let 's return to the Soviet­ trust and confidence-in the closing Allied relationship. In your book , you months, upon the United States not using Ripon Forum: So how was Eisenhower's contend that the success or the 1944 Al­ its growing might to take on the Soviets approach to U.S.-Soviet relations distinct lied invasion or France depended upon the berore lhe Gennan defeat. Even the Brit­ rrom that or other presidents? Soviets occupyi ng the Gennans on their ish were graterul ror our restraint , Eastern rront. And because or lhat Soviet recognizing that a settlement and recon­ Eisenhow·er: First, he was rererring to presence , we could do little to stop them struction in Europe were not possible wh y we had become involved in Europe. from movi ng through Eastern Europe. without a basis ror mutual confidence. America had inescapably become a great p<)\'<'er and could not renounce it. At the Eisenhower: This isn't a question or grat­ Ripon Forum: How would you compare same time, America was a democracy and itude. There was a military and political the Eisenhower and Reagan approaches to Eisenhower was mindrul that historians bargain at the 1943 Teheran Conrerence the U.S.S.R.? ha ve argued that democracy and great which put the Allies on a track to invade power are incompatible-Qne has to be France . As I see it , we sacrificed certain Eisenhower: They have a lot in common , traded for the other. Eisenhower rejected

4 RJPON FORUM. JUNE. 1988 thai, as did Americans in World War U. Eisenhower: I think he was stating the Given our great power, to have ignored moral that his generation derived from the the suffering and aggression in Europe Depression-era. The moral had to do with would have comxled democracy in the Germany and the fact that an indus­ United Stales. trialized and civilized nation had "If the Denwcrats cannot Times have changed. Unlike 1961, surrendered to a military-industrial com­ the great issue facing the United States to­ plex. But America's survival in the resolve the fragmentation day is not so much the East-West Depression and victory in World War U relationship, but rather the North-South meant that our values applied to a mod­ within their own party, issue. As a great power, the United States em, complex world. Afterwards, we faces the same issue in a new setting: how remained a democracy as we waged the which is a hint of a wrger are we going to relate to the great under­ Cold War. The key in Eisenhower's mind fragmentation in society, privileged masses of the world? Are we was citizenship--to exercise the respon­ going to take a stand with the "haves," as sibility of citizenship so that we insist then the Republican opposed to the "have-nots?" I don't think government be accountable and that the our democracy can afford such a position. mi li tary-industrial complex justify what it administration will have undertakes in the name of the public good. He was not calling to dismantle it, to corifront it. There but rather for politicians to hold it ac­ should be no cause for countable. After reviewing several intermediate complacency within the "/oon't think the Reagan drafts of thai speech, I concluded that era is over. This election Eisenhower's farewell address, couched GOP" as a warning about the future, was essen­ is nwre like 1940 than tiall y a retrospective. He had grown up in the horse-and-buggy era in Central Kan­ 1960 . . . There's nwre to sas, and had seen the dawn of a more narily an elected president offers new complex world. Moon probes were being themes, but Bush is like Roosevelt going be oone, and Bush planned, the atomic era had begun, and into his third term. Roosevelt was not represents continuity. " the world's population had doubled. He elected because the Depression had been was saying Ihat civilization had once suc­ solved and the American people were cumbed to the savageries of a new grateful. Rather, the Depression was be­ complexity, and we need not do so again. ing solved, and the American people As part of the industrialized North, we Our struggles had proven thm we could be wanted more of the Roosevelt remedy. cannot wall ourselves off from developing both free and modem, but ii's up to us. This is what's going on this year. nations. That doesn't mean we must nec­ He didn't say "dismantle the military-in­ essarily abstain from military dustrial complex," but rather that we Ripon Forum: But underneath the era of involvement in such places as Nicaragua need to remain an alert citizenry. Good "good feeling" lies what seems to me and Panama. Our willingness to sacrifice citizenship in his mind was caring about growing racial and economic tensions. for objectives in an area can indicate our and believing in a free way of life that can There seems to be a greater psychological concern . be made to work . tension between haves and have-nots. As I see it, Ronald Reagan has shifted the focus of American foreign pol­ Ripon Forum: After his administration, Eisenhower : That's what the Jackson icy away from the nuances of Europe we we nt into a period of rapid social candidacy shows. And Republicans toward those of Central America. I've felt change and political upheaval. Do you see should be aware, because if the Demo­ from the moment that he took office, Re­ the same thing happening in the 199Os? crats cannot resolve the fragmentation agan, a Californian, has had a very After all, we are living through another within their own party, which is a hint of a different perspective on foreign affairs. era of "good feeling," but under the sur­ larger fragmentation in society, then the It's been logical and consistent, and he face lie some real structural problems. next Republican administration will have deals with a problem that is more immedi­ to confront it. There should be no cause ate to the Western part of the United Eisenhower: I don't think the Reagan era for complacency and Republicans ought States, namely Central America and our is over. I think this election is more li ke to be thinking about ways to remedy the hemispheric relations. 1940 than 1960. I predict that 1988 will be almost unanimous allegiance of blacks to like a reelection, not an election. Reagan the Democratic Party. Ripon Forum: During your grandfather's was elected in 1980 to deal with deep­ presidential farewell address, he warned seated economic problems, such as stag­ Ripon Forum: Let's shift to another sub­ of a growing military-industrial complex, flation, and those economic problems are ject- Wa tergate-which you might have a term that has become part of our na­ not yet solved. We are not dealing with an unusual view of. As a historian, you tional vocabulary. How do you think he the trade problem and retooling the Amer­ have to deal with facts objectively, yet you would view Ronald Reagan's five-year, ican economy. There's more to be done, are also Richard Nixon's son-in-law. trillion dollar defense buildup? and Bush represents continuity. Ordi- What lessons did you learn from that ex-

RiPON FORUM. JUNE 1988 , contra. If Congress had come up with proof that lran-contra was one of many ef­ forts to fund right-wing causes and a shadow government through arms sa1es and other means. then you would have something bigger than Watergate. That has not been the case.

Ripon Forum: In a recent article for The New York Times Magazine you wrote that "1988 will be an ideological contest, a test of whether America is. in fact. li ving in the conservative era Republicans fore­ cast as long ago as 1971. ,. Could you elaborate upon that statement? perience and what lessons did we learn as and it was going to have to be worked out, a people? not stopped or throttled. Eisenhower: The Goldwater slogan in In the end, important constitutional 1964-., in your hean you know he's ri ght "-was an attempt to say that Ameri­ Eisenhower: It was a serious constitu­ questions were faced . And many litiga­ cans really are conservative. even if they tiona1 crisis, as opposed to the Iran-contra tiona1 precedents were set. Nilton's say they're liberal. And by 1971 or 1972. affair. which is an effort to recycle Water­ resignation was itself a precedent. All of people were saying that somehow liberal­ gate. History never repeats itself. this is distinguishable from the current ism was violating or going beyond For our family, Watergale was a very lran-contra affair. common sense. The Republican Party vic- painful and unsettling thing to go Ripon Forum: But isn't the lran-contra through. But it was not as unsettling and painful as wondering when and how the affair similar in that some members of an Vietnam War would end . Watergate elt­ administration thought they knew best posed the strain our representative and attempted to place themselves above the law? governme nt goes through in a prolonged war. I also see it as the last chapter of the "Watergate exposed the Eisenhower: I think it was a cyclical situ­ Vietnam War. ation where a lot of people saw a potential strain our representative I can recall a James Reston column Watergate. The parameters superficially in February 1973 saying that since Ihe resembled Watergate, but it was an alto­ govenvnentgoesthrough Paris Peace Accords had been signed, we getherdifferent affair. Iran-contra could look forward to another era of in a prolonged war. I see involved an overture to a foreign govern­ "good feeli ng." I could remember think­ ment, which is clearly a presidential ing to myself, " not yet." Too much had Watergate as the lost prerogative. It also involved an apparent been said during Vietnam, and too many loophole in the Boland Amendment, ehi1pter of the Vietnam positions had been taken. It seemed likely which Congress deliberately put there. that the end of the war would lead to a HI " Congress didn'l want to decide about the " ar. Watergate of some kind. ThaI accounts for Nicaraguan contras, and may have been a certain amount of Mr. Nixon's fatalism. content to a1 low the administration to de­ He defended himself beyond the limits of human endurance in 1973 and 1974, but cide . Anyway, the congressional probes lac ked conviction and this made it possi­ he stopped well short of using in his self­ ble for North and Poindeltter to become tory in 1980 was proof that liberalism had defense the full ex. tent of the powers of in­ nationa1 heroes. I'll be very surprised if done so. The question for 1988 is whether cumbency. they ever serve time for violating the Bo­ the conservative movement represents the land Amendment. Nobody I know favors common sense of the country. Ripon Forum: Did Nilton recognize that Oliver North or John Poindexter going to One thing that will decide the ques­ even resolving Vietnam was not going to jail. tion is whether the Democrats are reall y lead to an era of good feeling? serious about winning the 1988 election. Ripon Forum: But there is also the re ve­ So far, they haven' t shown many signs Eisenhower: I think he did . I' m not sure lation by The Washington Post's Bob that they are. I suspect that many Demo­ he 'd say hedid. But there was a fatalism Wooward that the late CIA Director Will­ crats don' t have a real quarrel with what is that meant the resources of the office of iam Casey wanted to establish a shadow going on. Lacking one, they rea1ly have to the presidency would not be used as effi ­ government to carry out forei gn policy. invent one . That's a very hard thing to do, ciently and effectively in Nilton's defense because natural leaders don' t just fall out as they could have been. Watergate was Eisenhower : I have always felt that this of the sky. Leaders and parties rise with the next phase of the Vietnam War debate. was the potentiall y serious aspect of Iran- causes over long periods of time.

6 RJPON FORUM. JUNE 1988 a platfonn for a Republican administra­ vented too many deep cuts in the domestic tion. The "me-too" element of the budget in 1981 and 1982? Republican Party never reall y e lected any­ body, even my grandfather. His slrength Eisenhower: There was a little bit of it , "The Republican Party was that he combined the common sense but it didn't reach Johnson-Kennedy pro­ of Roosevelt with what is reall y Republi­ portions. victory in 1980 was proof can in his emphasis on private enterprise that liberalism had gone and private remedies. Ripon Forum: My final question is about The next Democrat to be e lected your chosen vocation. What led you to be­ beyond common sense. president will probably hail from their lib­ come a historian? Was it that you saw a lot eral wing. Like Reagan, the next of history flfSt-hand at a relatively young The question for 1988 is Democratic president will have the com­ age? plete trust of the party's core e lements. whether the conservative The DemocralS probably can't elect ~ment represents the someone who's trying to throttle the party faithful. common sense of the Ripon Forum: What about the so-called "The parameters of the country. " " baby boom" vote. which is made up of many socially progressive yet economi­ Iran-contra affair cally conservative voters? Many are in the political center and are independent vo­ superficially resembled ters. Shouldn't the GOP also be concerned about capturing that vote? Watergate, but it was an altogether different affair. Ripon Forum: Is this where Jesse Jack­ Eisenhower: I think they have a large son's candidacy fits in? share without knowing it. The baby boom Iran-contra involved an grew up during the 1964 Johnson-Gold­ Eisenhower: That's an interesting ques­ water race, so they had an adjustment to overture to a foreign tion. The long range danger Republicans identify with the party of Goldwater. But I government, which is face is that they will become smug about think they have. Reaganism is popular the victory I think they will win in 1988. across-the-board. clearly a presidential It 's good for the Republican Party to have a rush of Democrats trying to jump on the Ripon Forum: But look at the voters that prerogative. " Reagan bandwagon. if thai means Repub­ identified with John Anderson and Gary licans have captured what the Democrats Hart in 1980 and 1984. Many of them had in the 1930s. which was being the were in the political center but without a party of opportunity. That spirit is now in particular party. In fact, the "baby the Republican Party instead of the Dem­ boom" vote seems to wander aimlessly Eisenhower: It was an accident. The ocratic Party. between parties. Nixon question was still so intense in Ifthe Republican Party is simply an 1976. My wife, Julie, and I were both assertion of the white middle and upper­ Eisenhower: It's a progressive perspec­ aware that many of the basic questions middle class against everybody else, then tive. Anderson, as I understand it , coming out of the shocks of the 1970s, the Republican majority will fade quickly. appealed 10 a leadership element within such as the unhinging of the White House It will corrode us in th e long run. ThaI's the Republican Pany. They were problem­ and the fall of Saigon, were still un­ why George Bush's theme orlhe 'politics solvers and decision-makers. Hart was answered. We wanted to explore these of inclusion" is important. trying to appeal to them in 1984, but I'm questions and have a say. not sure he was successful. Reagan has But my initial research led me to Ripon Forum: But what about such captu red it by providing bright, energetic Eisenhower, and within two months I had DemocralS as Al Gore, Sam Nunn and leadership in the Republican Party. discovered thai his war record was the Bill Bradley, who are preaching from the What has surprised me is how easily basis of his presidency. I found myself center of the spectrum? Shouldn't Repub­ Republicans of all shades have found a going back 10 the Teheran Conference, licans be aware of their attempt to home in the Reagan era. The Ripon Soci­ which is the place where the Eisenhower restructure the Democratic Pany? ety may be an example, because there has presidency, and maybe even the modem not been the break with Reagan that oc­ presidency. began. The modem president Eisenhower: J don' t think they will. They cured in the Democrat's Lyndon Johnson­ now speaks for the NAro Alliance, and simply confion the status of the Republi­ Bobby Kennedy split. many of the issues the Alliance faces to­ can Party as the governing party. Maybe day had their roots in that Conference. We iI's like Republican moderates in the Ripon Forum: What about the moderate now take it a year al a time. We are now 1940s who wanted to make the New Deal Republican "Gypsy Moths," who pre- working on a project aboul 1968. •

RIPON FORUM. JUNE flWJ 7 EDITORIAL A GUII)E TO THE '88 REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN

ice President George Bush has burden of a national record, Dukakis is earned himself the nomination for already leading Bush in the nation's larg­ V president, so concerned Republi­ "What George Bush est, politically-crucial state , California. cans are already turning to the broader The challenge is for real . picture: keeping the White House in GOP needs nwst in his vice For Number Two? The fi rst question hands, and keeping the Republican Party on everyone's mind is: whom should Bush strong and growing. There is much at presidential selection is a choose as his running mate? It is, of stake. Who should be the Republican run­ person with excitement course, mandatory that the choice be pre­ ning mate? What slands should Bush tout pared to become president, but veeps are to defeat a tough, competent opponent in andJor the comnwn often virtual nobodies, chosen for personal what is likely to be a bard-fought, close or political qualities. Bush has a rich field election? touch." from which to choose, and only a hazy The Ripon Society named Bush its identity of his own to balance. The process "Republican of the Year" in 1985, and of elimination is simpler, though, with nothing since has shaken our confidence mental conservation; and a hope for our these thoughts in mind: thai the man is highly capable. decent, and children's future that includes debt-free It is imperative tfuJt Bush riot turn to to use Richard Nixon's description, a government, excellence in education, and someone who represents the Reagan-esque " progressive conservative": a conserva­ unyielding standards of decency. George right·wing. Boundless economic o ptim­ tive , to be sure, but concerned about help­ Bush is superbly qualified and genuinely ism , a macho foreign policy and Bible­ ing people and managing change. We committed to advance these Republican thumping moralism are as passe and dis­ finnly believe that, because of these traits, values. credited as televangelists. A winger on the George Bush would make an excellent 41st People outside Washington are only ticket would remind folks of Bush's on­ president. beginning to see how tough an opponent again, off~ again conservative fervor. This Doubtless some Ripon Republicans Michael Dukakis may be. He has known is why folks like Jack Kemp, Jeane were committed to other candidates during failure, having served one tenn as gover­ Kirkpatrick, or Westerners like Utah Sena­ the primaries, and some of us have been nor from 1974 to '78 as a self-righteous, tor Orrin Hatch are not what Bush needs. concerned by the vice president's conver­ Carter-ish refonner, and getting knocked Even more important, and no offense sion from Reagan rival to cheerleader. But out in the '78 primary by a conservative to anyone, but two preppy, managerial Es­ it is now in the interest of every Republican Democrat (Ed King, who has since turned tablishment-types on the GOP ticket would to elect George Bush. lfhe has done noth­ Republican), Dukakis learned from that be suicide. This caveat painfully rules out ing else, Reagan has given Republicans a experience, came back to defeat King in many of the finest VP prospects: the taste of majority status, and it is one of the the '82 primary, and since then has built a wide l y~experienced Donald Rumsfeid of key missions of this journal to promote a liberal record in a more savvy, cautious Illinois, Treasury Secretary James Baker, Republican majority. If Bush loses, count manner. or the popular fonner Transportation Sec­ on a return to guerilla tactics and the kind Like John Kennedy, the last presiden­ retary Drew Lewis. The urbane fonner of negative agenda that keeps progressive tial nominee from the Bay State, Dukakis governor ofTennesse, Lamar Alexander, is Republicans a minority within a minority. appeals to the huge number of Catholic and a favorite of ours, but somewhat of a Further, for those who still think the ethnic voters, and he should be competi­ Southern preppy; in any case, his hands Ripon Society is not composed of "real" ti ve in the industrial belt, the urban South, are full as the new president of the Univer· Republicans, let's say it again: we stand for and the Hispanic West. Moreover, as Step­ sity of Tennessee. The oft-mentioned Gov· a growing economy and equal opportunity hen Hess, a Brookings Institution scholar ernor George Deukmeijian of California is for all; an emphasis on the individual's was quoted, "The country tends to get not so WASPy, but this low-voltage prag­ rights and responsibilities; an honorable bored with one party in office. We have a matist has only won his position with tiny role in furthering world peace through both history of 'throwing the rascals out ,' even margins, and it's difficult 10 see what diplomacy and anned strength; environ- if they are doing a goodjob." Without the strengths he would bring to the ticket.

8 RIPON FORUM. JUNE t988 What the Bush effort needs most is Capitol Hill is excellent; Simpson is Senate about the tax hike which Dukakis would excitement and/or the common touch. The Minority Whip, which makes him the sec­ surely enact, and about a new spending choice should not overpower Bush's char­ ond ranking Senate RepUblican . And his spree by an undiciplined Democratic Con­ acter and low-key charisma, but could bea ability to work with Congress is proven; gress. vivid demonstration that our party is still among other measures, he got Congress to The economic performance of this fresh, competent, and in touch with the passtheSimpson-Mazzoli bill in late 1986. country since the 1982 recession has been dreams of the average American, This is This controversial bill tackled the fonnida­ very strong, and where gaps have oc­ the identity Bush has shown in the pri­ ble issues of immigration refonn. Simpson curred, such as the trade deficit, Bush maries, and he must keep moderate.con­ is certainly no progressive, but neither is should offer more than just a defense of the servalive, working-class swing voters he a New Right favorite. Thinking conser­ status quo. Republican ideas like public­ within the GOP majority coalition . vatives and many liberals respect him, and private research partnerships, export pro­ At the lOp of our list is New Jersey he may be just the person George Bush motion and "reciprocity"-pushing for ac­ Governor T homas Kean, There are two needs. The vice president does not project cess to foreign markets-are good places to strikes against him. He is nearly knocked his own charm well, and Simpson's Mark start. out by our first criterion, being a blueblood Twain-like humor would provide a nice Further, Bush enjoys a stature on for­ Easterner with an Ivy League education balance. eign policy that he must not squander to the and quirky accent to match. Bush would be neo-isolationist Democrats. This means he obliged 10 fuzz his identity again and play will have to be more forthcoming about the the Southerner on the ticket . Second, Kean lran-contra scandal . Either he objected and is probably reluctant to leave his post as the "Bush slwuld offer more had lillie to do with the policy, or he was an spectacularly popular governor of a reborn ignorant bystander. Both possibilities are slate. than a defense of the embarrassing, but not fatal. Certainly the But Kean would generate palpable in­ Nixonian image of half-truths is more terest and a can-do attitude. His success status quo. He slwuld damaging. with tax cuts and urban enterprise zones Again, there are foreign policy suc­ has won wide acclaim from conservati ves address Third World cesses this party and candidate can brag like Jack Kemp, and he could strengthen debt, the global about: the INF treaty and nearly-con­ the Republican economic agenda in Con­ cluded START agreement, excellent rela­ gress. At the same time, he has been an environment and further tions with NATO, avoiding any new effective champion of the interests of communist regimes (especially when blacks (he was re-elected in 1985 with 60 arms control proposals in compared to the Carter years), and rolling percent of the black vote and Coretta Scott back dictatorships in Afghanistan, Gre­ King's endorsement- take that, Jesse action-oriented terms." nada, the Philippines, and Haiti. Bush Jackson!); of environmental protection; should address Third World debt, the and excellence in education. His stands on global environment, and further arms con­ foreign policy are reli ably moderate-to­ trol proposals in action-oriented tenns. conservative. Here is a man who would Platform: On issues, Bush has talked Bush can compare Dukakis to the last underline the Bush agenda. make us com­ about being the "education president, " Democratic governor elected president, petitive with independents and blacks, and paying more atlention to the environment, Jimmy Carter. Like Carter, Dukakis is a even provide a boost to New Jersey GOP and holding his administration to higher liberal with self-righteous, arrogant len­ Senate nominee Pete Dawkins, who is standards of decency and faimess. The dencies, posing as a centrist. Like Carter, locked in a close race with the Democratic tone is applauded and should give hope to it's difficult to see how he can impose incumbent. moderates. But it's unrealistic to think he discipline on a divided Democratic Party How about Eli zabeth Dole? The for­ will adopt a more progressive platfonn, or and Congress. Foreign and economic pol­ mer Transportation Secretary and wife of what the right wing calls "me-too Repub­ icy would almost certainly return to Car­ Bush's rival, Senator Robert Dole, is artic­ licarusm"-we want what the Democrats ter's erratic pattem, as fine intentions ulate, savvy, and already well known. She want too, only less of it. That's a losing evaporate into stagflation, and interna­ could be helpful in her native South and message in years when voters feel the tional withdrawal. would be free to develop a message among eight-year itch. Moreover, it alienates con­ About the most you can say for Du­ targeted groups of voters. Senator Dole, servative voters who make up the bulk of kakis is that he's a decent guy who may the defeated candidate for the nomination, the GOP majority coalition. deserve his chance. Unfortunately, more re!X'rtedly accepts the idea. Secretary Dole If anything, Bush should be down­ presidents have been elected on that plat­ would offer some pizzazz as the first Re­ right feisty when it comes to questions of form than on any other. publican woman on a nalionallicket , easily taxes and spending, and deterring the So­ George Bush should run a chal­ outclassing Walter Mondale's '84 choice viets, the bread-and-butter Republican lenger's campaign, not the flatulent effort of Geraldine Ferraro. message. Dukakis can trumpet the Massa­ of an incumbent. The Democrats are run­ And finally, if a Western conservative chusetts economic " miracle," but much ning hard , and have a motivated, compe­ is needed, what about Alan Simpson, the of it is due to high-tech defense dollars and tent , united leam. The pendulum is with folksy senator from Wyoming? His sense tax cuts mandated by a ballot referendum. them . and Republicans cannot afford to let of humor is renown. His knowledge of Bush should ask voters to think twice il swing too far. -

9 RiPON FORUM. JUNE 1988 A CONSTRUCTIVE, PEOPLE· ORIENTED PLATFORM A Guide to New Ideas That George Bush Should Not Overlook

By Dale Edward Curtis

orget what the blase Beltway pun­ cover other, equally pressing concerns. requiring Japan to rearm, or the U.S. to dits tell you. This year, the nomina­ But we deliberately feature the work withdraw from strategic regions ... F tion process actually has given us of outspoken progressive Republicans, to " Until we stop deficit financing, re­ two intelligent, decent, competent men demonstrate their resonance with the party duced spending on interest must come with markedly different views of the at large. A party with room for these ideas, from restored monetary stability. A world . The choice of running mates (see and a party which has demonstrated it can reduction of interest rates toward the level Editorial, pp. 8-9) and platform themes make ideas work , deserves to be the party of Japan and our own stable money past may not be as gripping as the World Series, leading the nation . could save hundreds of billions by but to win this campaign, both parties will 1992 ... rely more than usual upon the images cre­ " As a first step, the Group of Seven ated in exercises like writing a platform. nations should develop a new, shared blue­ Republicans can take heart this year print for currency stabilization. The focus that the ri ght people are saying the right must be policy coordination , not merely things . Take GOP Chairman Frank "We can continue to meet costly interventions into currency trading Fahrenkopf, Jr.: " The American people markets. will rightfully reject a party of inflexible our social obligations by "Spending should grow slowly or ideology and rhetoric which is not respon­ even be held constant. Even a moderate sive to their real concerns .... [We must] helping people get and level of economic growth can generate offer bold new and innovative alternatives keep good jobs. " about $70 billion of additional fede ral rev­ that are fi scally responsible , that fulfill the enue without tax hikes, and we can con­ fundamental obligations of government, tinue to meet our social obligations by and that consider the needs of people. " rooting out inefficiencies, re-examining George Bush has earned the ri ght to entitlement programs paid without regard redefine the Republican Party and our ap­ to need , and especially helping people get proach to the issues, and he should . Amer­ and keep good jobs." icans have almost an instinctive prejudice Steady, Sensible Economic Progress - New York investment counselor for change. Right, left , or in the center of Steven B. Klinsky, from A Newer World: the GOP, there are innovative approaches You can't argue with success: infta­ The Progressive Republican Vision. Mad­ to age-old problems--economic growth tion down , interest rates down, unemploy­ ison Books, 1988. and security, extending freedom to more ment the lowest since 1974, manufacturing and more people, helping families-that resurgent after a difficult transition. But Further Education Reform: Key to A Bush should embrace as enthusiastically as Americans wonder if our current economy Stronger America he defend s the record of the Reagan admin­ isn't built on a house of cards. To ensure it istration. iso't: "President Bush will understand that So here we have collected some of the "Major tax increases should be re­ our worst inner city and rural schools are best, most creative Republican thinking sisted and spending restrained while cuts mere warehouses-storing children for being done today. This is by no means a are made from two areas that have so re­ twelve years and releasing them prepared definitive or comprehensive summary of cently ballooned: defense and net inter­ for nothing more than the welfare lines or " the progressive Republican platform " est . . .. prison cell. He knows that even with the (see "Notes and Quotes," pg. 24). There "If Europe and Japan would together deficit , Washington can do more to help is not room for that document here, or to spend only 4% of their GNP on common these children. [Also} , a Bush administra­ defense, then the U.S. could reduce its tion will work 10 guarantee that no able and Dale Edward Curtis is associate editor of defense burden to about 5% of GNP (down hard working student will ever be turned the Ripon Forum. from about 6 .5%). This would save the away from the campus gates because they U.S. roughl y $60 bi llion annually, without can't afford the tuition."

10 RIPON FORUM. JUNE t988 - Remarks of Governor Thomas Representative Thomas Petri of Wis­ nority Whip Alan Simpson has offered Kean of New Jersey, March 22, 1988. consin, a founder of the Ripon Society; acid rain legislation; in the House. Repre­ Governor Kean is perhaps the most Remarks to the Republican Platform Com­ sentative Sherwood Boehlert crealed an respected and experienced American edu­ mittee, March 30, 1988. active 40-memher GOP task force that cation refonner, in a group that includes Concerning legislation to increase the tipped the balance toward a solution that is other current or former GOP governors like quantity and quality of child care: "The tough on the problem, but easy on the Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, John As h­ full participation by women in the econ­ economy. croft of Missouri, or George Deukmeijian omy requires that quality child care be " Energy e fficiency is probably of California. available for their children .... We need America's most unsung technological suc­ The common themes of these suc­ to encourage a wide variety of kinds of cess story .... Unfortunately, we've cut cessful refonners: public education needs care; to encourage creative approaches to stronger leadershi p, greater accoun­ work schedules and employee benefits by tability, higher standard s, and more the private sector; to preserve state and money. local flex. ibility to set standards; and to "Standards should be higher in prac­ reform liability and tax obstacles that dis­ tically every subject , but the federal gov­ courage potential providers from entering "Public education needs ernment must place higher priority on the child care field." science, engineering, mathematics, and - Represenrative Nancy Johnson of strong leadership, greater languages. Merit pay and master teachers Connecticut; Remarks to the House of Rep­ should be created, but only as greater rec­ resentatives, February 24. 1988. accountability, higher ognition, compensation, and opportunities standards arul more are provided for all teachers ." Reverse the Tragic Epidemic or T~nage - William Ciohan, former Under­ Pt-egnancy money, " secretary of Education; Ripon Forum , No­ vember 1986. "Nearly every physician who has ever treated a pregnant teen will tell yo u that il is ignorance, not information, that gets a teen in trouble .... Teens must be investments in conservation research and assisted and supported in deciding to ab­ development .... If we fa il to do more in stain from sex; information about contra­ energy efficiency, U. S. finns will operate ceptives mu st also be communicated. at a disadvantage compared to competitors .'The full participation of Neither is adequate by itself.... School­ like Europe and Japan; we'll fail to capture based clinics are effective in reducing the multi-trillion dollar global market for women in the economy pregnancies, drop-outs, suicide , drug ad­ high·efficiency equipment and services; requires that quality child diction , and other serious health problems we'll import more foreign oil; and we'll prevalent among medically underserved face either a dirty environment or higher care be available for their youth. They save the taxpayers money. " taxes to clean up needlessly polluted air, - Harriett Stinson, founder of Cal i­ water, and land. " children. " fornia Republicans for Choice, and N.G. - Representative Claudine Schneider Bostick, educator; Ripon Forum , October of Rhode Island; Remarks to the Energy 1987. Efficiency Technology Exhibit, February 22 , 1988. Combine the Pursuit of Energy and Help Women and Families Deal With Environmental Goals Revive Constructive Efforts ror Peace in New Realities AI Work Developing Nations After [he Anne Gorsuch Burford Rather than sharp hikes in the mini­ scandal of the early 80's, it's assumed that " Instead of continuing the narrowly mum wage, which hurts the poor through Ronald Reagan 's Environmental Protec­ focused, piecemeal debate over military inflation and job losses, why not increase tion Agency (EPA) is a joke. To be sure . vers us humanitarian aid for th e an existing tax credit for low-income they have not pushed environmental pro­ Nicaraguan contras, we must develop a workers and vary it by family size? " It 's tection as hard as we might wish. But plat­ comprehensive, long-term policy for the pro-work , since you have to work w get it. form writers should be wise to note a region as a whole. Expansion of efforts It's pro-family, since you have to reside remarkable study by EPA 's senior man­ such as the Caribbean [tradel Initiative, with your children to get it . . .. It in­ agement in 1987 naming continuing air the U.S. college scholarship program for cludes those who are not covered by the pollution as the nation 's number one health Central American students, economic as­ minimum wage and millions earning more and environmental threat. sistance and human development pro­ than the minimum who still need help be­ Since 1986, the media and major en­ grams should be the foc us of U.S. policy." cause of their larger families. All this at vironmental groups have given Republi­ - Representative Carl Pursell of less cost to society and with far fewer bad cans [he lion 's share of credit for Michigan; Remarks to the House of Repre­ side effects than the minimum wage ." advancing clean air legislation. Senate Mi- sentatives, March 17 , 1988. •

RiPON FORUM. JUNE. /988 II DEAR GEORGE: Youthful Insights Into the 1988 Presidential Race

ar]y in April, Senator Dan Evans, contra. Go to the President and ask his R·WA, used one of his weekly staff approval to tell the whole story including E meetings to pen a lener to George the advice you may have given him in your Bush. The letter took the fonn of notes pri vate meetings . (This was a strongly re­ Evans made as his staff discussed what "If President Reagan's peated suggestion from everyone in alten­ they "would advise George Bush regard­ dence-Dan.),' ing his campaign." Evans sent the roughly slogan was 'It's Morning The leiter was candid and infonnal, edited notes to Bush who wrote back a and the tone was that of conversation, not self-typed letter. in America, ' then impassioned rhetoric. Evans' letter to Bush and Bush's re­ perhaps the slogan for the In the same vein, Bush responded sponse were informal, they won't be used with an infonnal missive which he typed as policy instruments. But, they were con­ next administration needs hi mself, and included typographical er­ structive. Evans' staff addressed some cru­ rors; it was not sifted through secretaries cial poims. to be 'It's time for and advisors. "Dear George." Evans wrote, "I America to get out of Bush explained that he agreed with know you are getting advice from everyone most of the suggestions. " l can do better at but I thought it might be useful to run bed. '" leuing people see the 'human side that's through the. . notes I took (at my staff there,'" he confessed. And though he ex­ meeting]." and get "a sense of the kinds pressed some concern about the "constant of things these young Republicans are erosion of Presidential power," calling it thi nking about. .. "absurd," he does feel strongly about in­ The "young Republicans" and "a garding the role of women in the Republi­ creasing opportunities for "women, about small sprinkli ng of some grayer heads" can Party, in the work place and in the fi nding a non-budget-bu sting answer to suggested changes which ranged from the country as a whole. Those at the meeting day care, and about better cooperation personal to fore ign policy. also expressed concern about child care, with Congress." "We'd like to know you more person­ pre-school education, and savings plans Ronald Reagan and Jimmy Carter ally and see the human side that really is for college. both ran for president on the theme of there, draw a stronger picture of who you Evans' staff addressed the traditional being "out siders," anti-government. are ... " they said. "We are looking for a progressive Republican themes such as the Government-bashing being the fu n that it president of competence, experience and environment and judicial appoiontments. is, both fonner govern ors were elected by ability." And, of course, they added, Beckoning to Teddy Rooseveil, they ex­ saying that we need someone from outside "don't be ... a whiner." tolled Bush to "put the tenn 'conserve' of Washington in the White House "for a Their policy suggestions reflected a into conservative," and they cautioned change." desire for a more activist policy on social him that judges should represent all of the Maybe, though, it can be good to issues. If "President Reagan's slogan was people, not just particular special inter­ have someone who knows Congress, who 'It is Morning in America' then perh aps the ests. has a rapport with the legislators. Bush has slogan for the next Administration needs to On foreign policy, the leuersuggested served in government for about 20 years, be ' It's time for America to get out of that Bush should "attempt in every way to in Congress, the diplomatic corps, the bed,'" they quipped. make it bipartisan. Pu blicly and regularly CIA, and as vice president. On social issues, Evans' staff cited a work with Democrats as well as Republi­ Whether the American public con­ " need to show compassion and help peo­ can leaders ... " siders this a detriment or an asset is hard to ple recognize that effective management And no dialogue with George Bus h is decide. But Evans' staff suggested a cou­ of govern ment leads to success in human complete without some concern about ple of ti mes that the president must work programs. " lran-contra. Evans' staff implored, "For more closely with the Congress, and this There we re several suggestions re- heaven's sake don't surprise us on lran- dialogue seems fu ll of such promise. •

12 RiPON FORUM. JUNE /988 ------

GEORGE BUSH AND IDS CLASS PROBLEM

BY WILLIAM P. MCKENZIE

ow that it is certain George Bush in 1960, when 62.8 percent of eligible vo­ will be the Republican presiden­ ters cast ballots." In the 1984 presidential Nlial nominee, his campaign . like election only 53 perceO! of those eligible 10 that of all front-runners , will be besieged vote cast their ballot. And in this year's with numerous tedious questions. Among "What George Bush must Super Thesday electoral extravaganza , those will be queries about his role in the only 23 percent of eligible Texas voters Iran-contra affair: What advice did he give do is dispel the notion participated in their state's primary. In the president and when did he give it? And Aorida, only 22 percent of eligible voters what convincing evidence can he produce that his own comfort will participated. that shows he opposed President Reagan's preclude him from To provide Americans with a genuine policy of trading anns for hostages? interest in their future, George Bush is But the Iran-contra affair will not be making the future of this going to have to be more than an "educa­ the most troubling question for George nation a proposition in tion president," which so far is his pre­ Bush. Rather, his mos t annoying problem dominant domestic goal. George Bush is will be about class and whether or not his which all can share. " going to have to confront head-on what patrician upbringing would add to or de­ critic Irving Howe says is "an impul se tract from a Bush presidency. toward a pseudo-aristocratic snoniness" in Bob Dole tried 10 convince voters that American society. the vice-president's upbri nging will be a Unfortunately for Bush, the root of detriment. The son of a hardworking but this new snotliness can be traced to the poor Russell , Kansas Family, Dole cam­ Both presidencies were flawed , and Reagan administration 's lack of accoun­ paigned on the theme that Bush, the son of did not produce all they promised, but tability to the nation 's poor. Instead, it has a Connecticut senator and a graduate of what presidencies haven't been nawed? anempted to cut social programs while si­ Andover and Yale , is not "one of us." And isn't it signi fica nl that the lower multaneously undennining voting rights Alright . Perbaps. George Bush iscer­ classes did not resent those two upper­ statutes and existing civil rights decisions. tainly not Bob Dole . But class does not class presidents? The stati stics about poverty, partic­ necessarily have to work against a candi­ Some middle and upper income vo­ ularly women and poverty, are every­ date. Consider Theodore and Franklin ters did not like either Roosevelt , of where. More than 34 percent of families Roosevelt, two presidents from the upper course. But that has to do with the fac t that headed by a woman are poor. Sixty-one class. many middle and upper class voters we re percent of women receiving Aid to Fami­ The presidencies of both men were comfortable and had no desire to open up lies with Dependent Children are teenage about-or at least were perceived to be the nation's economic and social pro­ mothers. And only half of the girls who about- remedying problems associated cesses. give birth before age 18 are likely to com­ with discrimination and the lack of oppor­ What George Bush must do is dispel plete high schooL (According to Planned tunity. Theodore Roosevell's administra­ the notion that his own comfort will pre­ Parenthood, 96 percent of women who tion sought a " Square Deal " for average clude him from making the future of this wait until after age 20 to have children citizens, wh ich meant challenging the nation a proposition in which all can share. complete high schooL) power of emerging corporations. And Unfortunately, if recenl voting stati stics If George Bush wants an issue to neu­ Franklin Roosevelt's administration are any indication, that may be a difficult tralize those who think he will only perpet­ brought about a "New Deal " for those task. uate •' pseudo-aristocratic snottiness," debili tated by the Great Depression. Graham Allison and Katie Smith of here it is. And combatting the problems the Kennedy School of Government wrote associated with )Xlverty doesn't always re­ recently that " the proportion of Americans quire mega-spending. William P. McKenzie is edilorofthe Ripon voting in presidential elections has de­ Consider the child-care bill intro­ Forum. clined almost steadily since a postwar apex du ced by Republican Representative Continued on page 21 RlPON FORUM. JUNE 1988 JJ AN OPEN LETTER TO THE VICE PRESIDENT

BY JOHN W. SEARS

Dear Mr. Vice President: public finds that commendable; it is rather the president's mistake in appointing him You are behind in the national polls, to the top law enforcement office in the and unless we are rescued by the workings "We have only a short time land, and his loyalty to Meese as Attorney of the Electoral College, it is hard to be now to fI1flke a strategic General. It must be obvious that the presi­ optimistic about defeating Mike Dukakis. dent could bring his old friend back to the This is the leiter of an old friend. In decision to take on the White House, as one of his most trusted 1979 , when I was a Boston City Councillor three or four advisors, for these waning At Large (and a New Leadership Fund Reagan Agenda. . . or months, with no consequence of disloyalty endorsee), I held a press conference in the to approach the people and disgrace, and defuse the rockets which Curley Room at City Hall and endorsed are just starting to explode for yo u and for you. This time around, I stood loyally by with a Bush Agenda." every other Republican running thi s sum­ you when yo u came out with the president mer. in support of the INF Treaty. And you So, I have sincere doubts that it is stood by me when I needed help running wise for you to take on the entire Reagan for governor against Mike Dukakis in record, including all the president's mis­ 1982. These comments are those of a be­ That conclusion seems inescapable takes and-what may be more signifi­ liever. because he has given away 15 percent of cant-all those he may make this year, in a We have only a short time now to the total time available for campaigning. fatigued White House which has already make a strategic decision; on the one hand, The result has been that your campaign has lost a considerable portion of its talent and to take on the Reagan Agenda whole and been, for weeks now, entirely eclipsed by much of its spirit and spark. entire, and go to the country as an uncom­ the excitement of the lackson·Dukakis If you make this choice, then I urge plicated extension of his presidency, or on contest. The president could have equal­ you to make a much closer study of Mike the other, to approach the American people ized the news coverage for you, and he has Dukakis' campaigning and delegating with a Bush Agenda, not necessarily in not. This situation may change, but per­ style than your staff has made hitherto. It confl ict, but rooted in problem-solving in haps not in time. was disturbing to me, to say the least, to areas where President Reagan has nOI de­ This predicament, when added to pol­ find that there had been no contacts with veloped interests or soluti ons. ling figures which show your awareness any of the three Republicans (including As I write, there are six months until and familiarity well below his, casts some me) who have run against him for state­ the general election. The media now report serious doubts on the strategy of running wide office. He is a pugnacious advocate that President Reagan's endorsement of your campaign entirely as the vicar of the who sets rhetorical traps, and it seems to yo ur candidacy was lackluster. Since the Reagan administration and its policies. For me your campaign may have already fallen nation has known for a month or more that example, it means you are paying much in to several of these. He charges, for ex­ yo u are the inevitable Republican nomi­ 100 high a price for the president's loyalty ample, that you "sat by," while the admin­ nee, I take the president's lack of enthusi­ to Attorney General Ed Meese. istration "traded anns for hostages with asm in this respect as unhappy evidence­ The president's advisors seem locked the ayatollah." This has been rebutted by that he is not likely to make an ali-out, into rather narrow channels, and one references to our efforts to work something coast-to-coast effort on your behalf. wonders whether they have your cam­ out with "the Iranian moderates." paign-or the future propects of the Re­ let me assure you that the vast pre­ John W. Sears has held several elected pUblican Party- high on their menu s. ponderance of the American public doubt offices in Massachusetts, and he was the There may be some problems of intuition that there are any moderates in Iran. The Massachuseus Republican Party Chair­ and pragmatism. [n the Meese case, it president's argument has never made man in 1975-6. His 1982 Massachusetts seems not to have occurred to them that the headway, and you will do no better with it. gubernatorial bid makes him the last Re­ difficulty is not the president's loyalty to The less damaging part of the charge arises publican to run against Michael Dulrokis. an old friend; surely a large share of the from the trade; the more damaging part

14 RJPON FORUM. JUNE 1988 arises fro~ the allegation that it strength­ in Cold-War or quasi-war circumstances is ened the ayatollah. who is by now almost justified and I would welcome it; but that universally perceived as a hate-soaked and dreadful piece of nonsense, which requires bloodstained old tyrant. troop withdrawals after a precise time pe­ So I would think a better rebuttal he­ "The main miracle about riod if Congress gets talkative and fails to gins with a clear, ringing denunciation of act should be given the speedy and merci­ the ayatollah. and a declaration to the ef­ Dukakis is lhilt the ful burial it deserves." fect that "the last thing I intended or ever mediocrity of his At the present time, Dukakis is doing would want, was that any of the weapons a rather successful job of bashing you and we sent to lran would fall into the hands of performance hils gone the president on the trade legislation , the ayatollah." Never mind the unmarke­ which seems to be widely supported. The table moderates. unexamined. " president's objection, which you are iden­ Your next step has to be based on your tified with, lies in the indecisive language judgment of the strategic conundrum I set requiring plant managers to give advance forth earlier; if you are inclined to wear the notice to their employees if a factory is to mantle of R.eaganism complete and entire, far from impossible, I have heard you refer be closed; you have taken on the uphill task then you can say something of this sort. " 1 somewhat obliquely to your concerns for of defending a rather closely-held principle like and respect the president, and have William Buckley the CIA station chief in of entrepreneurial capitalism. stood by him through all these months, and Beirut. Although from all accounts his Why not simply say that plant-closing I'm not about to walk away from him now; treatment was most vicious and outra­ regulations affecting domestic businesses I've kept in confidence what we said to geous, his is not the case best suited to have no relevance whatsoever in a bill de­ each other, and because of my feeling regain the hearts of the American public; signed to alter the regulation of foreign about the country, I'm not going to change try them out on the predicament of Terry trade? In fact , such totally non-relevant that either, even if it costs me the election. Anderson or Terry Waite or Father Jenko. language would- until recent deteriora­ But I can tell you, and will tell you, what I This same kind of approach can be tion- have been successfully removed might consider doing if similar or compa­ adapted to the Nicaraguan problem. The [rom comparable legislation in Massa­ rable situations arose during a Bush presi­ White House unaccountably failed to com­ chusetts on a " point of order. ,. Why let dency.'· That would free you to respond to municate to the American people its justi­ Congress get away with this ancient horse­ Dukakis with a full statement that is free of fied doubts about the legality and play? Why not teU the Duke to have his the unhappy overtone of evasiveness constitutionality of the Boland Amend­ friend, Senator Kennedy, fi le a separate which is now clouding your comments on ment , and instead of voicing those doubts and distinct plant closing bill , so it can be this issue . And it might well win the hearts in court and in the media, decided to ig­ debated on its own merits, and not be of a lot of American voters. nore the Congress and operate as one handed to the president as a bit of legisla­ If you select the other strategy, and set might, perhaps, in less ethical towers on tive blackmail? This is the sort of response forth a separate and distinct Bush Agenda, Wall Street. There is no reason why you which would bring support from a large then of course you would be free to do what have to adopt this disaster as your own. A segment of the population. the president ought to have done : to face large segment of the American public does Personall y, I hope there is-before thc Duke and say, "look here , if you had not like or trust substantial congressional long-a shift to a Bush Agenda, focused day-to-day responsibility for the safety and incrusion into the day-to-days of foreign on areas which supplement- rather than freedom of Americans living or traveling policy making. They would have re­ contradict-the Reagan Revolution . Some overseas; and if some of them-totally un­ sponded positively, and might now, to a critical components would include: a resto­ connected with politics or the military­ clear statement of just how far Congress­ ration of mobility. Hexibility and surprise are captured by madmen and imprisoned or its selected leadership-<:an practically in our defense establishment; a national and tortured; and if you heard constant playa role in volcanic events on short no­ crash program to improve curriculum and pleas from their wives and parents and tice in tempestuous countries; how far you teaching quality and literacy; a wise, non­ sisters and children and friends-you'd try would want to go to cooperate, as a fonner socialist plan to distribute medical care as some things, even some pretty extreme member of Congress; and when you would far as possible; a housing system which things, too. That's what we did. We were go directly into the courts to try the legality welcomes ownership and discourages the damned if we were going just 10 sit there of a legislative incrusion into the area of genuine evil of speculation; an insurance and let Americans suffer. Well , we did try executive responsibi lit y. system which gets back to responsibility some things, and the one we're arguing The public is equipped with a full and consequence; and genuine attention to about worked badly. We goofed. But I am ration of common sense. In a highly com­ the heartbreaking problems of homeless not sorry we tried. ' . parable area, the War Powers Act, the pres­ and jobless Americans, both of whom Had the president made such a state­ ident has leC! them uneasy, and exposed abound in Massachusetts despite the rheto­ ment, the whole so-called "scandal " himself, and you, to anack by simply ig­ ric of your opponent. The main miracle so would have been set to rest in about 48 noring the legislation. Yet most folks, far is, that the mediocrity of his perfor­ hours , except among the zealots and the when they know its provisions and content, mance has gone unexamined. - extremists on the left. and their credibility are startled and surprised by what a shaky Sincerely, would have quickly waned. He failed todo piece of statutory drac!ing it is. Why not so, and it wi ll be harder for you now, but say-"some kind of congressional action John W. Sears

RJPON FORUM. JUNE J9lJ8 IS WHEN THE SAINTS GO MARCHING IN TO MICIDGAN

BY TIM POPE AND BRIAN BARMER

The result of the new selection pro­ "Th e Christians have won!" cess was that the popular vote in the presi­ declared the Reverend Pat dential selection process was gone. This Robertson. His exuberance new caucus system had instead set the follQ\O,'Cd the Michigan deadline for filing "The new caucus system stage for a smail , but dedicated group of precinct delegates in 1986 which was the extremists to gain control. Quietl y, the Pat beginning of the visible Robertson for set the stage for a smail, Robertson campaign began in eamest. President movement in Michigan and a Their firs t step was to recruit precinct battle for control of the Michigan GOP. but dedicated group of delegate candidates under the auspicies of The ferocity of Michigan's presiden­ extremists to gain the Freedom Council. Using fundamen tal­ tial selection process intrigued political ist churches as a base , they were able to watchers. The New York Times referred to control. " out-recruit both George Bush and Jack Mich igan as the "Beirut of Republican Kemp. This effon proceeded successfully politics." The Sa n Francisco Chronicle with very little media attention . The more jabbed at the process as "fanatical skir­ mainstream party members were not aware mishing." And, Rich Bond, Vice Presi­ of the size of the Robertson movement dent Bush 's deputy campaign manager Democrats would crossover to vote in the until the May filing deadline, and then remarked glibly, "Good Morning , Vi et­ open Republican primary, since the Demo­ some leaders did not readily accept what nam " at a press conference the day after crats had moved to a caucus system in the numbers seemed to tell. These un­ local caucuses. 1984. known new activists innocously identified Was the Michigan GOP's experience With this rationale, the party moved themselves as "just people in the party with the Robertson for President campaign from the primary to a new, highly compli­ with no set agenda." an oddity or a foreshadowing of future cated caucus system. This last point is Inside the Freedom Council appa­ battles to be waged across Michigan and significant. Few people really knew the ratus, the Robertson organization was the nation? details of what the party was moving to. At characterized by dedication, energy, open­ The drama in Michigan began with the time of the move, there was seemingly ness between leadership and fieldworkers, the des ire to leap-frog Iowa and New linle reason to be concerned-at least the and a clear goal-orientation embodied in Hampshire for the lead in the presidential " devils" to that point we re all well known. the person of Pat Robertson-all in a way selection process. The motives seemed What many didn 't realize was that the new that baffled the "country club" mental ity clear. It was reasonable to suggest that a "devil " wo uld not be so easy to fi nd, of some Republican leaders. However, the large industrial state with nine million peo­ much less to know. organization lacked seasoned leadership. ple should be heard at least as loudly as a Brie fl y, the new system worked like This resulted in an alliance with the New sparsely populated farming state and a this: candidates for precinct delegate (the Right backers of Congressman Jack Kemp. small New England slale. From the per­ building block of the system) would file by The Kemp supponers were all sea­ spective of the party leadership, being first May 1986. [n August 1986, more than nine soned political veterans either from years would also mean national media attention thousand precinct delegates would be se­ ofheing the "outsiders" during the admin­ and big names to bring dollars into state lected from those who fi led, duri ng the istration of William G. Milliken, the pro­ and local party coffers-hoth benefits state's pri mary election. These delegates gressive, mainstream former governor which would win accolades from the rank­ would then gather in county and district who retired in 1982 after twelve years at and-file. There was also real concern that conventions in January 1988 to elect 1085 the helm in Michigan, or by being care­ delegates to the state convention. Later in fu ll y schooled in the conservati ve pro­ Tim Pope is the secretary of the Michigan Jan uary, at the state convention, the 77 grams that have nourished during the Republican Mainstream Committee and delegates to the Republican National Con­ Reagan years. Together this Robertson­ Brian Bamier is a member of the Main ­ vention in New Orleans would finall y be Ke mp axis took control of the State Com­ stream Stale Committee. chosen. mittee in January 1988. This new "conser-

I6 RJPON f'ORUM. JUNE f988 vative coalition" flexed its muscles and The battle continued to the state con­ stepped back to the sidelines owing to their quickl y began rewriting the party rules in vention later in January, where Michigan distaste of politics. But many have become their favor. was to shine in the national spot li ght for supercharged because of their taste of po­ With the August 1986 vote rallied, it their vision in nominati ng the first dele­ litical victory and the reaction to the fear of became clear in the 1986 Fall state-ticket gates to the National Conve ntion . Instead political persecution. Currently, the funda­ nominating convention that there was a of shining, the convention was split as the mentalist movement is marching on three new, drastically diffe rent Michigan Re­ Robertson supporters boiled from the offi- related battle fronts. First, in 1988 Michi­ publican Party. No longer was this the gan voters will face an initiative referen­ party of Governor Milliken. The main­ dum to discontin ue the spending of stream element of the Michigan Party, Medicaid dollars for abortions. The Right which had revived George Bush's presi­ to Life movement was one benefactor of dential ambitions in 1980 by beating , 'The jimdmnentalist the increase in foot soldiers from the new Ronald Reagan latc in the primary season , movement. was no longer a viable force. movement has appeared Second, many of the Detroit suburbs Many of the new Republican leaders to target House races as are facing a resurgence in the number of were far more conservative. They were fundamentalist candidates running for solid adherents to the New Right ortho­ the next step in their school boards. Their demands include no doxy as elucidated in Richard Vigurie's certification for Christian teachers, review book The New Right: We're Ready to Lead. march to control the of textbooks and movies in public class­ This is what made the Robertson move­ Michigan GOP." rooms, and, in one case, Halloween cele­ ment so interesting. In the post-Milliken brations being called into question. era, the new establishment was first domi­ Third , the Republican members of the nated by conservatives at least as far right Michigan House of Representatives are as President Reagan . Yet by 1986 , these bracing themselves for the potential threats same people were labeled by the Robertson of primaries across the board. This is un­ movement as liberal and unacceptable for cial convention to a " rump" convention in fortunate as, at the same time, House Re­ party leadership---the purge had begun . the basement, claiming that they should be pUblican Leader Paul Hillegonds, a Ripon The rules placed Bush and the re­ recognized as the official convcntion. Society member, is leading a revival of his maining moderates on the defensive right The process ended with a divided progressive caucus, and is finally creati ng up to the county convention, until the State party sending cwo delegations to the New a positive view of the Republican Party not Appeals Court declared that the new rules Orleans convention. The ironic outcome is were in violation of state law. This gave the that Michigan will be the last delegation Bush campaign new life. Pat Robertson seated and not the first. then charged that the state courts should be Polls which were conducted at the " Was the Michigan investigated for corru ption. lime of the state convention by The Delroil The local caucuses showed the News showed George Bush preferred by GOP's experience an strength and detennination of the Rober­ 54% of respondents to Pat Robertson's oddity ora tson backed conservative coalition. Two 8%, suggesting the likely outcome if a district conventions should be noted as ex­ primary election were held. This demon­ foreshadowing offoture amples. First, in the traditionally moderate strated the power of a few committed indi­ 18th district , the caucus dragged on ten vi duals to ovelTIlle the clear preference of battles?" hours, until 5: 15 in the morning when the the people and decisively to skew the re­ janitor of the local high school, where the sults. Rather than directing our resources caucus was being held, began to tum off to sell ing the Republican Party's vision of seen in Michigan sincc Governor Milliken. the lights and ask people to leave . The the future and the leadershi p ability of our Nonetheless, the fundamentalist conve ntion ended just hours before stu­ candidates, the energy and dollars were movement has appeared to target the dents arrived for their 7: )5 a.m. civics les­ wasted trading votes in smoke -filled House races as their next step in their sons. The controversy was over the extent rooms. The ray of hope for the future is march to control the Michigan Republican to which new state party rules (backed by that legislalion has passed the State Senate Party. In fact, a member is quoted as say­ Robertson) governed the convention pro­ and is expected to pass the State House to ing: " The state Republican Party of Michi­ cess in light of state election Jaw. restore a presidential primary system. This gan will indelibly bear the mark of Pat In the Wayne County portion of the primary, unlike the old system, will call for Robertson for many years. We have a 16th District, the story was different. a closed process requiring voters to declare chance the next time they file precinct dele­ There the leader of the "conscrvative co­ a party preference 30 days before the pri­ gates to control all the counties. For our alition" would not allow the news media in mary election. people, that means they will have control the convention unless they paid a $500 fee, The questions being asked in Michi­ over cou nt y boards of supervisors, an unprecedented stipulation . In addition, gan now are: How strong is the Robertson mayors, ci ty council members, school many of the Bush supporters, including movement? And will the fundamental ist board members. They will have control the vice presidcnt's son, Marvin, were lit­ followe rs continue in the political process? over the issues they care about." And the erally left out in the January cold. Clearly, some of the participants have "saints" continuc to march in. •

RiPON FORUM, JUNe J988 17 REVIEWS IN DEFENSE OF THE IVORY TOWER

BY ALFRED W. TATE Allan Bloom, The Closing a/the American Mind. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1987 .

diatribe, accordi ng to The Ameri­ cal analogy of politics, should hold can Heritage Dictionary. is "a sway.. . . This is the really dan­ bincr and abusive criticism or de­ A gerous fonn of the tyranny of the ma­ nunciation." The English word comes jority. not the kind that actively from a Latin tenn meaning "learned dis­ "From People Magazine persecutes minorities but the kind that course" and both have a Greek cognate breaks the inner will 10 resist because meaning "to completely rub away or wear to the myriad of polls that there is no qualified sense of noncon­ out ." In The Closing of the American fonning principles and no sense of Mind Professor Al lan Bloom of the Uni­ constantly measure every superior right. versity of Chicago has wriuen a model of the genre. Simultaneously scholarly and facet of our personal and As so-caJled life-style options prolif­ vituperative , the book will exhaust the public lives, it is clear we erate and politicaJ problems become more reader who attempts to wade through it complex, the prospect is for a society in from cover 10 cover. are fast becoming the which even those who would oppose the This is too bad. Whi le much of what will of the majority are creatures of ca­ Professor Bloom has to say is both true and nation of sheep Bloom price. Their only basis for dissent is heed­ important. his argument needs to be taken less and essentially random reaclion 10 as a whole and with a large grain of saiL says we are." whalever is currentJ y in vogue. Bloom begins by reiterating Toc­ Bloom believes the university is so queville's warni ng that the greatest danger critical to our system of governance be­ a democracy faces is the potential enslave· cause it is the one institution capable of ment of its citizens to public opinion. This averting this danger. The freedom of mind is, Tocqueville found , a danger inherent in bodyi ng the background, as it were , on which the health of democracy de­ the premises of individual freedom and against which compe ting alternatives pends, he writes, equality on which democracy is based. In a emerge and take on definition, these often requires nOI oru y, or nOI even espe­ democracy reason must rule , and the liber­ maligned cultural artifacts are what we ciall y, the absence of legaJ constraints ation democracy brings is from those tradi­ continuously launch ourselves from as we but the presence of alternative tional authorities---established church, act into the future. thoughts. The most successful tyr­ aristocracy, family- which impede the ex­ These traditional authorities protect anny is not the one that uses force to ercise of reason in governance. us against the influence of the transitory assure unifonnity but the one that re­ The rub. Bloom points out, lies in the and ephemeral by pointing out what the moves the awareness of other possi­ fact that these " authorities" not on ly con­ race has found 10 beoflasting worth. With­ bilities. strict and confine, they also enrich and. in out this protection, the individual in a de­ For Bloom, il is to keep aJive this "aware­ fact, enable thought and action. They em­ mocracy has only the popular sentiment of ness of other possibililies" that the univer­ body the traditions which bring the past the moment to rely on in making choices in sityexists. into the present. In the process they create their personal lives and in exercising their The university can play this indispen­ the present. Indeed, it is the " presentness" equal voice in the governance of their com­ sable role in a democracy, Bloom argues, of living traditions that makes the exercise munily. only as long as it remains what it is so often of reason possible by providing the context Thus democracy's d ilemma is that the ridiculed for being-an " ivory tower. " As in which choice is meaningful. By em- freedom and equality of all , on which it such. it is able to perform three critical insists, has the potential to undennine the functions for a society in which the people Alfred W. Tate is a member of the Forum's independence of mind it must promote. As rule. First, by preserving the achievements editorial bollrd whose illcomplete disser­ Bloom puts it: of the past, it precludes our absolu tizing tation has :.·tooo ill the way of his jillding a If al l opinions are equal, then the ma­ the present by viewing history as series of place in the" ivory lOwer. " jority of opinions, on the psychologi- inferior stages in its development. Second,

J8 RlPON FORUM, JUNE /988 by being open to currently " unpopular" target. From People Magazine to the myr­ nOI needed is the mean-spirited ranting to ways of thinking, the uni versity challenges iad of polls that constantly measure every which Bloom's critique of contemporary the tempilltion to chase after whoever and facet of our personal and public lives, it is culture frequently descends. whatever is in momentary fashion and to clear we are fast becoming precisely the More importantly, while the ramifica­ which democracies are peculiarily vulner­ nation of sheep he says we are. Further, tions of historicism are every bit as troub­ able. Finall y, by providing a time and thanks to him we now have a better idea of ling as Bloom believes, it cannot be place where knowledge is sought for its why the political leaders we are graced dismissed and the old verities returned to own sake , the university offers an antidote with talk incessantly of values, but cannot simply by wishing it were so. HiSloricism to the democralic propensity 10 make prac­ articulate a convincing vision of the "good is an intellectuall y legitimate response to ticalily the only measure of worth. life" for us in other than the crassest mate­ what humans have learned from their expe­ Bloom says even the best of our uni­ rialtenns. rience in the nineteenth and twentieth cen­ versities have never pefonned these three turies. The challenge we face is to li ve with vital democracy-girding functions that the acute di scomfort and sense of loss this ....'CII. Now he concludes they have almost experience has brought and to work toward quit trying. an "awareness of other possibilities," The blame for this Bloom attributes to rather than succumb to the despair of nihil­ the rise of historicism with ils assumption "As rich, insightful and ism or the mindlessness of fanaticism that everythi ng-including most espe­ which th is loss tempts us to believe are cially human nature-is the product of hi s­ even occasionally now our onl y options. tory. The relativism which is the result of amusing as the book is, It is wrong to fault an author for the this way of thinking has opened a Pan­ audience his or her work finds, and Pr0- dora's box of woes. Perhaps the worst is its argument is too simple fessor Bloom has expressed surprise at the the conviction that all measures of worth popularity-and even notoriety- his book are cuilurally detennined. With this has by half. The interaction has achieved. But the dense and convo­ come {he attendant belief that different between past and present luted nature of hi s argument, the fact that ways of life can only be judged by their its fonn is almo§t a caricature of arcane own , internal standards, and thus one is is more complex than academia and its tone so polemical, make ultimately as good as any other. I-I ere it easy to misuse. Bloom says humans are defined as "value­ Bloom's account would These flaw s detract greatly from the creating," but choosing between the contribution the book could have made to values they create is final ly merely a matter indicate.' , the debate over the refonn of higher educa· of taste. tion in this country. It is intellectually dis­ Agains{ th is development Bloom ap­ honest to describe Ihe present in tenns of peals to the belief of the ancient Greeks the problems it presents and Ihen prescribe that absolute tTUIh-again most especially Further, anyone who has tried 10 help the past as the remedy, however accurate regarding human nature-is knowable, at a young person graduating from high that description may be and however nos­ least proximately. Here value is not rela­ school with a desire for an old-fashioned talgic we may be. Of all they are prone to, tive , but measured in tenns of the degree to " liberal education" select a college will this is the sin conservatives find perhaps which the particular and real shares in or recognize the ring of truth in Bloom's anal­ most tempting and Bloom comes peril ­ reflects the uni versal and ideal. According ysis of the state of higher education. The ously close to committing it. to this way of thinking, Bloom says, hu­ curricula of many American schools are Demagogues have had a fie ld day mans are defined as "good-seeking," and now so iU-defined that it is difficult to casting bricks snatched out of contCJtt from judgments between differing ways of life narrow the field even through the negative The Closing of /he American Mind at tar­ are possible on the basis of the degree to device of eliminating those which clearly gets of opportunity in higher education. A which they realize the good. do not offer the sort of program desired. careful reading of the book will reveal that Bloom believes the already wide­ But as rich, insightful and even occa­ these are cheap shols. The institution he so spread and growing acceptance by higher sionally amusing as the book is, its argu­ clearly loves would have been far bener education in America of the understanding ment is too simple by half. The interaction served had Bloom tempered his rhetoric of humans as "value-creating" rather than between past and present is more complex and faced more squarely the full dimen­ "good-seeking" will increasingly prevent than even Bloom's account wo uld indi­ sions of the crisis our culture. and the uni ­ its functioning as it must if our democracy cate. Certainly to lose touch wilh the re­ versity as both a reflection and repository is to remain healthy. If this trend con­ sources of our past, and particularly with of that culture, faces. • tinues, he is convinced, the relativism at­ the Socratic tradition, would be immensely tendant to this understanding will preclude impoverishing. But what is needed is 10 the university from offering genuinely life­ bring that tradilion and other elements of What's Ahead in the enhancing alternatives to the more and the mainstream of Western thought into Ripon Forum: more shallow and swiftly changing fads dialogue with {he non-Western traditions which are coming to characterize our cul - and the heretofore unattended to strands of ANew ture. Western culture now finding their voice Economic Agenda This is great stuff. Bloom is right on and challenging that mainstream. What is

RIPON FORUM, JUNE J988 J9 THE CHAIRMAN'S CORNER GEORGE BUSH AND IRAN-GATE: The Last Word

BY JlMLEACH

s Americans continue to sort out From the day he assumed the office, it the issues and candidates of 1988, appears George Bush determined to be A the question emerges whether a candid in private with the president, force ­ scandal of political judgment has nol be­ ful in carrying out delineated tasks , but not come a scandal of press perspective. "Should [Bush] be run overly contentious in policy group set­ The scandal of judgment is obvious. ti ngs. He understood policy !Urmoil would The Reagan ad ministration anempted to out qf town for a policy develop if he attempted to stir his hand too trade arms for hostages and thence use he neither authored IWr deeply in Ronald Reagan's stew. As " pres­ certain proceeds to further a dubiously le­ ident-in-waiting," he knew that a too as­ gal war in Central America. Trying to oUI­ played a principal role in ?" sertive vice president would do more harm Kissinger Ki ssinger, inexperienced geo­ than good if hints developed of policy divi­ strategists within the National Security sion or unsupportiveness. Counci l surmised that by making overtures Hence, the personal dilemma for to Iranian moderates a basis could be de­ George Bush: given his character, it's not veloped for bettering relations with a POSI­ countenance the institution of the presi­ at all inconceivable that he would be more Khomeini Iran. dency being shaken to its roots a second embarrassed at allowing advice to be made In this tale of immaturity, deceit and time in one genemtion. public that made him look good at the TOW-missile alms, the role of the vice Mindful that Reagan 's teflon didn't president 's expense than advice which president has never been considered cen­ scratch, the press in recent weeks appears might link him to a failed policy. tral. Given his assured nominalion, how­ to have developed a confl ict-or-interest de­ Hence, the dilemma for the nation: ever, the press has suddenl y chosen to sire to dress Bush in velcro. If George foreign policy errors of this magnitude de­ make George Bush's role the centerpiece Bush does not become the fall guy for a mand tough-minded reassessmenl, but of yesteryear's concern. failed Reagan policy, a story long in devel­ self-criticism should not be so destructive Last spring Washington was abuzz opment and elucidation wi ll have pro­ as to cripple the institution of the presi­ with conjectu re that Iran-gate was not onl y duced an inadequate and inconclusive dency. a political embarrassment , but could possi­ result . It is in the context of defending the bly lead to presidential resignation or im­ Two questions of journalistic ethics presidency that George Bush reminds us peachment. As a Capitol Hill observer of jump out How fair is this to George Bush, that pri vileged discussions with a president the process, my sense was that the liberal and how important is the criticism leveled take on import. If private discussions be­ press was dead right in describing the against him to the office he seeks? come matters of public review, presiden­ chasm of judgment and di sorderly pro­ At issue is the man and the office-a tial counselors will be induced to be cedures of White House staff, but danger­ character appraisal of the first and a vul­ circumspect rather than candid in the ad­ ously wrong in suggesting remedies that nerability assessment of the second. vice they give. misfit the circumstances. While the public wants the presi­ Difficult policies often involve close The public understood better than dency built up, the Fourth Estate has a self­ decisions with nuances as well as basic Capital-Beltway pundits that what was at interest in bolstering presidential vu l­ thrust debated. If internal execulive con­ issue was more than a man and his policies, nerability to press concerns. Its "checks flicts become the norms of public dis­ but the presidency itself. The average citi­ and balances" power is best evide nced in course, consistency of presidential zen wanted humpty-dumpty put back to­ vindication, i.e., '·victims." purpose is jeopardized and confidence in gether by rei ning in the king's horses, The problem is that the target in this the presidency is undercut. changi ng the king's men , but not displac­ case is a real human being, a very decent It has thus been Bush 's policy since ing the king. Main Street America couldn 't man who by all accounts has done a very assuming office not 10 "leak" views or go decent job. The problem is made more "public" about policy differences when Jim Leach is a member of Congress from complex by the nature of the vice presi­ cheap personal gain might be ac hieved. Iowa alUi chairman of the Ripon Society. dency. Like the captain of a shi p, the prcsi-

RIPON FORUM. JUNE /988 dent must assume the first mate willloyaIJy icy? b) Is our system better served by a vice Conrinuedfrom page 13 carry out policy and not attempt to torpedo president faithful to administration policy presidential directives or undennine confi­ or one established in the eyes of the world Nancy Johnson. Under Johnson's plan, dence in presidential leadership. If a presi­ as a dissenter from it? c) Is 1he policy families with incomes up to 200 percent of dent thought his vice president cared more mistake involved in the lran-hostage issue the federal poverty level would be pro­ for the gain that might be achieved from not of modest significance compared to vided child care certificates that could be public revelations of dissent than the loy­ policy successes like INr? spent at licensed day care centers, or regis­ alty implied in support of administration As Ronald Reagan's copilot , George tered family day care homes. Funds for the policy, he would hardly be likely to seek Bush has faced up to the Iran mess more plan would come from reducing or elim­ out vice-presidential advice or allocate re­ fully than the press has acknowledged. It is inating the Dependent Care Tax Credit for sponsibility to a vice president who under an understandable liability for him . But the higher income fami lies. (Taxpayers with the Constitution has few specified duties question remains whether the press can adjusted gross income above $28,000 now except the right to preside over the Senate. now face up to the fairness issue. Should can claim a credit on 20 percent of depen­ In this framework George Bush's this decent man be run out of town for a dent care expenses up to $2.400 for one comments on the iran issue should be re­ policy he neither authored nor played a child; $4,800 for two or more.) viewed. They can becapsulized as follows: principal role in? Should the only candi­ Johnson estimates that by reducing I) He supported the president; 2) He ac· date in the Republican tent actively cam­ the credit for families who eam between knowledged a mistake was made; 3) while paigning on arms control and peace themes $60,000 and $70,000, and eliminating it he shared the president's concern for the be coercively abandoned by those in the altogether for those who earn over hostages, particu larly in the context of the party championing greater national chau­ $70,000, $300 million could be redirected bestial torture of Mr. Buckley, and while he vinism? in the first year alone to low income fami­ supported the principle of attempting to Just as Walter Mondale asked Gary lies who do not now benefit from child care make demarches to iranian moderates to Hart in 1984: "Where's the beef?" George assistance. pave the way for more responsible relations Bush should be entitled to ask his other Certainly one bill does not reduce between our countries, he reluctantly serious opponent- the press: "Where's poverty and the racial tensions that often placed on the record one reservation he the perspective?" accompany it. But it is an example of what held about the approach being pursued­ Is it fair to hold George Bush account­ George Bush, who is a member of the namely the concem that we might become able for Ed Meese? For Noriega? For upper class, could do as president. the pawn s of the strategic or financial America's growing addiction to drugs? The question, of course, is wou ld he? agenda of a few individuals within a for­ In his kiss-and-tell book of White Nicholas Lemann writes in the March is­ eign state- Israel- who were recom­ House intrigue. Don Regan has suggested sue of Texas Monthly that: "The hallmark mending anns transactions as a key to that the Emperor has no clothes and that of Bush's class is an obsession with a cer· influence building. the Empress dons witches' garb. As biased tain kind of behavior: modest, conscien· In the big picture, what more should as the former chief-of-staff's re­ tious, loyal, and honest." The challenge appropriately be said? membrances appear to be, the public has George Bush must face is whether the It is, of course, fair for Bush's rivals been titillated by his insider's surveys of "hallmarks" of his class will prevent him to suggest that he must share accoun­ astrological gossip. If opinion polls are a from breaking from the Reagan mold and tability for a foreign policy mistake of this guide, the mood of the electorate has dealing directly with the issues that could administration. Likewise, the same logic moved in the direction of change. This make him a successful president. • would indicate it fair for him to suggest mood-in-the-making reflects neither a par­ that he be allowed to share accountability ti san nor issue orientation. The country for other aspects of the Reagan administra­ doesn't want a rebellion. Just change. tion foreign policy-where the successes [n this context, the vice president has "A Salute to far outweigh the failures. What, after all, limited prospects of election unless his is more important: the fa il ure of a risky campaign does an about-face. It is time for Humor in demarche aimed initially at broadening the president to let go and for Bush to be American contacts with lranian moderates, or the Bush . With the nomination in hand, candi · successful negotiation of the INF accord. date Bush must make it clear he is the Politics" If it is realistic for opponents to ask standard-bearer, not someone else's lieu­ how George Bush would fare against a tenant. As the standard-bearer, he must Democrat this fall on the Iran issue, it is far give an uplifting vision, not just of consol­ June 21 , 1988 more telling to ask, how other Republican idation, but of change: of new leadership Washington, D.C. candidates would have fared if asked by a as well as new approachcs; of professional­ Democratic aspirant why they couldn't un­ ism; of tolerance to diversity of opinion , equivocally support the INF accord. but intolerance to sleaze; of hands-on con­ Contact: Faimess in perspective demands that trol of the ship of state; of family values THE RIPON three issues be addressed: a) When is reflected in life as we ll as rhetoric. enough, enough? How many more ounces This--the real George Bush-can be SOCIETY of flesh can be carved out of a public ser­ elected president. The candidate the media vant's hide after acknowledgement of has been prone to portray cannot. • shared responsibility for a mistaken pol-

RIPON FORUM. JUNE 1988 21 6 LIBRARY COURT

ANNUAL DINNER cuss the Middle East, the '88 campaign, at the future. Panels will focus on the is­ the trade deficit, regulation of financial sues and relationships within NATO , eco­ ummer in Washington, now thai the institutions, and tax refonn. nomic regulation and means to encourage baseball team is gone, means the Attendance is free, and everybody is individual initiative and enterprise, and SRipon Society Annual Dinner ... invited to attend any or all sessions. For Third World trade and debt issues. and tourists. The 1988 Annual Dinner additional infonnation about Issues '88, Queries about the Transatlantic Con­ theme is .. A Salute to Humor in American please contact Barry Edwards at the Ripon fe rence should be addressed to Philip Politics.' , Society, 6 Library Court, S.E., Washing­ Shelly at the Ripon Society, 6 Library Ripon began a tradition of hosting ton, D.C. 20003, (202) 546-1292. Court, S.E., Washington, D.C. 20003 Annual Dinners in 1981 and in 1985 the (202) 546-1292. Society gave George Bush its "Republican A NEWER WORLD, and not a of the Year" award. Since then, we have minute too 5OOn11- ANNUAL MEETING honored GOP Women and the Senate Re­ publican Leadership with our award. ur editors sacrificed several evenings he Ripon Society's annual meeting (Waddya want, another "Golden O and a weekend recently 10 finish T was held in Des Moines, Iowa on Reece?") proof reading A Newer World: The Pro­ April 23. Society members were hosted by This year, we are honoring Represen­ gressive Republican Vision ofAmeri ca, the the Iowa Ripon chapter, which put together tative Lynn Martin (R-IL) and Senaror Ripon Society'S first book in 15 years. We a luncheon and afternoon panel discussion Alan Simpson (R-WY), two people who originally planned to release the book in on the Iowa caucuses. are renowned and respected in Washington March, but various forces have conspired Ri pon Society president Mark Unca­ for their legislative abil ities and liked for to delay publication. We should. however. pher deli vered the luncheon address on their senses of humor. have A Newer World by early August. To progressive Republican values. Among Martin and Simpson will be the prin­ order you r copy, send $14.95 to the Ripon those values, Uncapher said, are a prefer­ cipal speakers al the dinner which will be Society, 6 Library Coun, S.E .. Washing­ ence for free market economics; an em hosted by Dinner Chairs Representative ton , D.C. 20003 . phasis on fairness for the individual on s0- Bill Frenzel (R-MN) and USAir Vice Pres­ cial, procedural and rights issues; and an ident Patricia Goldman. internationalist perspective on foreign pol­ CONVENTION '88- Washington has a well-deserved rep­ icy. ExcerptS from his address will be in­ utation not only for producing the legisla­ he 1988 Republican National Conven­ cluded in the next issue of the Ripon Forum . tion for the nation, but also for producing T tion is being held in New Orleans, Participants in the Iowa caucus panel some of the nation's best known jokes-of Louisiana this year, August 15-18 . In addi­ included Des Moines attorney Bennett course. many of them are not re-elected. tion to nominating George Bush, there will Webster, Des Moines Regisler columnist As the grave setting of the government of be much activity surrounding the GOP David Yepsen , Drake University professor the most powerful and influential nation on platfonn and organizing various Republi­ Hugh Winebrenner, Iowa GOP Co-Chair Earth. Washington is constantly in need of can activities for the next several years. David Oman, Dallas County, Iowa Repub­ relief from tension. We at the Ripon Soci­ The Ripon Society will have a high­ lican Chainnan Ralph Brown, and Bob ety have taken it upon ourselves to provide profile presence at the Convention. We Dole's 1988 Iowa caucus coordinator Tom the public service of making Washington plan to distribute the Forum and other Sinehorst. Two local television affiliates laugh for an evening. issue-oriented material, sign up members. covered the afternoon's proceedings. "A Salute to Humor in American Pol­ and talk-up progressive issues. itics" will be held at the L'Enfant Plaza CHAPTER NOTES HOlel in Washington. D.C. on June 21. A TAC (Ripon Goes to London) reception will begin aI6:00 p.m. and din­ he same week the Iowa chapter hosted ner wi ll begin at 7:30 p.m. Tickets to the he Ripon Educational Fund is assem­ T the Society's 1988 annual meeting, event are $500. If you have any questions, T bling the American delegation to the the Hawaii Ripon chapter put together a please contact Lisa Cochran or Bea Her­ Sixth Annual Transatlantic Conference to public television program. The subject was nady al250 10th Street, S.E., Washington, be held in London and Cambridge. Eng­ the direction of the Hawaii GOP, which D.C., 20003, (202) 547-6808. land. This year's Conference will be has been challenged by Religious Right chaired by Congressman Tom Petri and activists. attendees will include members of the New officers for the Hawaii chapter ISSUES '88- Ripon Society, the British Bow Group, a are: Paul Hooper, president; Elwin Spray, n conjunction with our Annual Dinner, Canadian delegation, and a Norwegian first vice president; Wendy Miyashiro, sec­ I the Ripon Society hosts an annual Con­ delegation. A French delegation has also ond vice president; Masu Dyer, treasurer; gressional Briefing series. This year's been invited. and Faye Rawles-Schok, secretary. Dyer briefing series, Issues '88, will be held on Fonner Senator John Tower and Brit­ reports that Hawaii Ri pon member Maria the day of the dinner. June 21, on Capitol ish Foreign Secretary Sir Geoffrey Howe Hustace, a Molokai rancher, is also chal­ Hill. The specific localion will be an­ will deliver keynote addresses and the con­ lenging incumbent Senator Spark Mat­ nounced soon. There wi ll be panels to dis- ference theme will be a Transatlantic look sunaga. •

22 RIPON FORUM. JUNE 1988 The Ripon Society offers

A NEWER WORLD: THE PROGRESS IVE REPUBLICAN V ISION OF AMERICA

EDITED BY REP. JAMES LEACH AND W ILLI AM P. McKENZIE

Written by Members o/Congress, Ambassadors, Cabinet Members and others.

- For your copy, please send $14.95 to: This book proJX.lscs solutiolls for today's problems The Ripon Society And a guide for tomorrow. 6 Library Ct., SE Washington, DC 20003

TIlE RIPON FORUM "Celebrates the Middle. , ," Subscribe Now to the Ripon Forum The Washington Post o Yes! Send me a full year of the Ripon Forum for only "Required reading for progressive $25 Republicans"-TIME Magazine o Enclosed is a contribution to the Ripon Society: "Positioning itself to be the voice ofthe Party's $ _--- future"-The Boston Globe ead by Members of Congress, leading jour­ Name R nali sts, politica l activists. and especially those interested in the di rection of the Repub­ Address ApI. II lican Party. The Ripon Forum brings you six issues a year filled with fresh & provocative debate on City State Zip the subjects of our day, profiles of o utstanding (o ptional) mainstream Republicans, book reviews, and political news from around the nation. The Ripon Forum, The o nly magazine of its Occupation kind. Don 't miss an issue.

Political Interests/Activities Please make checks payb\e to: THE RIPON SOCIETY 6 Li brary Court. SE Was hington. DC 20003 Phone II

RlPON FORUM. JUNE 1988 23 WASHINGTON NOTES AND QUOTES

Revolving Door: The re 's a steady national defense and foreign affairs. and rroubles than stories on aU other Demo­ business for cab drivers at the White House the outlook for November. cratic candidates combined, or the Repub­ these days, as one official after another hits ... licans, for that maner. For every story on the exit. We revive a proposal that ap­ Platform Update: The Republican policy issues, there 'Nere nearly two de­ peared in these pages for rules to require picting the campaign in " horse race" Mainstream Committee has also embarked presidential appoimees to serve out the on efforts to contribute to the '88 GOP terms, and three on campaign controver­ president 's entire term (Hugh Elliot, RF platfonn process. Comminee Director Ken sies. And Democrats got about twice the August 1986). We need to sto p the " brain Ruberg says that unlike 1984, platform total media attention of Republicans dur­ drain," and the self-serving, unaccount­ ing 1987. leaders this year have provided a more con· able crusades that cripple any second-term structive, open process. Says Ru berg, ... administration. ... "We seek a platform that is pragmatic in content, tolerant in tone, and reflective of Ripon at the Races: Keep an eye on Rising Stars Dept.: The dramatic the diversity of opinion in the Republican these hot Senate races involving moderate resignations of William Weld and Arnold Party. There is a lot of cause for optim· and progressive Republicans (next issue Bums at the Justice Department (followed ism." we' ll feature House and gubernatori al by the fuing of Terry Eastland, Depart­ ... races): ment spokesman), remind one of the 1974 In Ohio, Cleveland Mayor George Calling the National Enquirer: "Saturday Night Massacre." when Ripon Voinovich vs. incumbent Democratic Sen­ Democratic Party Chainnan Paul Ki rk, Jr., stalwart and then-Attorney General Elliot ator Howard l\1euenbaurn; in New Jersey, by the way, has made it clear that his Richardson quit to protest the shady tactics retired Anny General Pete Dawkins vs. party's platform should avoid the appear· of his boss, Richard Nixon. inc umbe nt Democratic Senator Frank ance of listing the demands of every liberal As with Richardson, Weld 's move Lautenberg; Lieutenant Governor Susan interest group. He favors a short, non-spe­ has won him praise in the state of Massa­ Engeleiter in Wisconsin, facing a GOP cific statement of principles which could chusetts, where Weld was appointed in primary vs. a Nixon-Mitchell crony, and be widely distributed, say, al grocery 1981 at the age of 35 to a fi ve-year stint as the winner of a hotly contested Democratic check-outs. Hmmm. U.S. attorney. We ld ran unsuccessfull y in primary; Congressman Jim Jerrords of That goal may run into trouble with 1978 for Massachusetts attorney general; Vermont vs. attorney Bill Gray; forme r the Reverend Jesse Jackson's campaign, his dramatic departure from Meese's Jus­ Senator Slade Gorton of Washington vs. which seeks specific pledges to slash mili· tice Department has fu eled spec ulation the Democratic winner of an open primary tary spending in favor of 70-100% in­ that he will make another statewide run­ in which Republicans may vote (and often creases in spending on housing, jobs, for either the U.S . Senate or the governor­ do); incumbent progressive Republicans universal health care, etc. shi p-in 1990. ... John C hafee of Rhode Island versus Lieu­ In case you weren't aware, no Repub­ tenant Governor Ri chard Licht; David lican has won statewide office in Massa­ Broadcast News: According to the Durenberger of Minnesota vs. State At­ chusetts since 1974. Richardson was Center for Media and Public Affairs, a torney General Hubert "Skip" Hump­ defeated in a Senate try in 1984. The state non-partisan , non-profit research organi· hrey III ; and Lowe ll Weider of party badly needs a champion, and the u tion, TV news provided a combined to· Connecticut vs . State Attorney General Harvard-educated corruption-buster could tal of more than eleven hours of election Joseph Lieberman. Incumbent, Ripon­ be it. '88 coverage in 1987. Interesting findings: friendly Senators Danforth, Reinz and ... there 'Nere more stories on Gary Hart's Lugar will have easier races . Machismo Pays OfT: White House pollster Richard Wirthlin says his surveys show the "gender gap," the GOP's rela­ The Sixth Annual tive unpopularity with women. has wid­ ened to more than 20 points . Transatlantic Conference ... July 20th - July 24th Teach Them Young 'Uns: For the fourth year, young interns on Capitol Hill In london, England. will hear the progressive Republican mes­ sage through a series of lectures featuring members of Congress and GOP activists. Contact the Ripon Educational Fund for details. Organized by the Republican Mainstream 6 Library Court, S.E., Washington, D.C. Committee, lectures will focus on the en­ (202)546-1292 vironment, fami ly and economic policies,

RiPON FORUM. JUNE /988