| Show 4't')r 4ttA4-'4iAv- e oet4'41!2-10714!ti'o- '41'4(e1"6 - WI 7 PfAk ':- iy17!?r4'Wdt' -- - : r7 P " : :: " ito4 ' f $ 1 )': 114 I hl Bush He Defies Historical Trends Conventional Wisdom DIA lst Year Ends With Unmatched Public Approval 0 By Owen Ullmann ' r - 111: ':':' i:f "rt: 1 1 -- u 1 f &:m ?:4at 47 NA kria :::!: i " '"'--' ' I iv - ' ':''''' : centrate on foreign policy where he has extensive experience from his days as ambassador to the United Nations envoy to China CIA director and vice president White House officials say Bush essentially has placed his domestic affairs portfolio into a blind trust managed by White House chief of staff John Sununu budget director Richard Darman and Treasury Nicholas Brady Bush g Secretlyy involved in an issue only when there is a major dispute among the trio In foreign policy Bush is more of a y operator than any president in memory taking only two long-timassociates into his confidence on all sensitive matters: SPeretary of State James A Baker III and -- ' ::41 :jg:': :wi it fr:::: ':'0 ': :: - ' A ': t1 - - 41--- 4-- illt 4 - t 0? r67 i 0-4- :' T) rjr dt :: - ''4 '' t ' ''''e: '' :':41144r k114'HW -- ' - '1- - i :'e4Y-l':-- ' President Bush Satisfied cess strength erodes Roosevelt had his New Deal John Kennedy launched a New Frontier Lyndon Johnson dreamed of a Great Society and Reagan promoted his Economic Recovery Program Bush however is the champion of the Status Quo During the 1988 campaign he promised to stay on — not stray from — the general course set by his Republican predecessor and he rejected arguments by his critics that he needed to spell out a clear vision for leading the country Voters sided with Bush and he has faithfully fulfilled his mandate That election marked the first time the electorate had replaced a retiring president with someone from the same party since Herbert Hoover succeeded Calvin Coolidge in 1929 and Bush read his history "A status quo president is not as exciting as a president who breaks a lot of eggs but that is what Bush was elected to do" says Everett Car 11 Ladd a professor of political science at the University of Connecticut's Roper Center for Public Opinion Research "The 1988 election was a rare endorsement of continuity and I give Bush high marks for following Instead he has been a beneficiary of the times: continued prosperity at home and mostly peaceful revolutions overseas that are replacing communist regimes with democratic rule While Bush cannot take credit for causing these favorable trends be can boast that his "prudent" stewardship has sustained them : "The economic and foreign situation could not be better for us" said one senior White House official "And George Bush has been careful not to screw things up" Bush's popularity also can be explained by his appealing public personality and style After eight years of detached and ideological leadership under Ronald Reagan the country seems ready for a change to a pragmatic hands-opresident who compensates for his upper-clas- s roots by acting like a friendly unpretentious next-doo- r neighbor "George Bush is the first country squire in the White House since Franklin Roosevelt He's " and observes Ross Baker a political science professor at Rutgers University "He's like a comfortable old shoe" The one nagging concern the public had about Bush's character — that he might be a "wimp" at heart — finally was dispelled by his decision to invade Panama White House officials and political scholars agree Baker argues that Bush has challenged the traditional timetable of the modern-dapresidency which demands that new chief executives push major domestic initiatives in their first year when their power is at its peak and turn to foreign policy in later years as their political n h family-oriented- through" According to Ladd Bush's high rating in public polls is the result of his approach to the job "Strong leaders such as FDR and Reagan typically get lower ratings because they do controversial things that polarize the public" he says "If you upset the apple cart less you win more overall support" Bush has shown little interest in domestic affairs preferring to con low-keye- d y x seY 11 44 41: ' ?' - " 0 : f ::t: 1: i - atlei: ' ' (44 S ' 'C 1 :4 :::''''ilvi:i' 4::'':::5!ti e '1 - 144r--l' " '- - ll::4iip::' - :Am :: iter : w ) t3 '—r' v ' ri 1 t A — 4A5146t - :i 'k ': sl :' i t'i 3 3 pts !:'' :: :::: laseTnaa Press Associwea "kinder gentler nation" campaign paid for Bush celebrating on election night ex ' - ' f with wife Barbara after his landslide tory over Democrat Gov Michael Dukakis vie-of- achievement was something that had not even been on his campaign agenda — a federal bailout of the savings and loan industry that may cost taxpayers up to $300 billion to keep the nation's financial system solvent And the single domestic proposal that topped his agenda — a cut in the capital gains tax raic — he failed to get from Congress The capital gains cut was one of many setbacks the Democratic-controlled Congress handed Bush through the year from the rejection of John Tower as defense secretary to the defeat of a constitutional amendment outlawing Bush asked for little from Congress and got even less in return according to an annual survey by Congressional Quarterly It concluded that Bush despite his conciliatory approach toward lawmakers fared worse in Congress than any other first-yea- r president elected in the postwar period Even though Bush refrained from personal attacks on Congress Senate Democratic leader George Mitchell of Maine contended that the president's "obsession" with the capital g n "Bush shaved the v: i AD 3!' Americans: sponsored a tougher Clean Air Act: called for increased community service to make America "kinder and gentler": and proposed more government involvement to solve problems such as drugs crime child care homelessness and declining educational standards In virtually every case Bush's stand conformed with prevailing public opinion not surprising for a president who has shown more interest in political polls than ideological purity The sole exception was his stand against expanding federal financing of abortions for poor women a position he took to honor a 1988 campaign pledge to groups The centerpiece of Bush's domestic policy has been his opposition to new tax increases a theme he inherited from Reagan His stance ruled out a compromise with Congress on a significant reduction in the budget deficit It also meant the government would have little extra money to finance his proposals to combat drugs and crime expand child care eliminate homelessness and improve education Bush's single biggest domestic rough edges off Reagan's policies to give them a smoother face" says Ladd Bush endorsed the first increase in the minimum wage in nine years promised more vigilant enforcement of civil rights for minorities and embraced expanded rights for disabled 0 1 ::4 ' ' philosophy of his predecessor but Bush devoted more attention to areas where Reagan's conservatism strayed too far from the political : 4: ' 11"4i?:cqt A II:: c:4:e:' u :Ptfivir4?! ' 7:E04i' i 4 F404? limited-governme- mainstream :: ' ':'Ai' ' 10 :::'4:: ' ::- k471 Scowcroft A year ago Baker who is Bush's closest friend and political adviser was expected to be a leading player in shaping administration policy in Baker has steered issues and Bush own shots on foreign policy limiting Baker to a clearly subordinate role Because he draws fewer people into his inner circle than did Reagan Bush is able to operate with greater secrecy which is how he likes it As an accomplished Washington insider he understands how premature leaks can kill a proposal by giving more time to mobilize opponents against it Bush who kept his overtures to China and plans for a superpower summit secret for months is particularly sensitive about foreign policy leaks not so much out of concern for national security according to one top aide but out of a "patrician" attitude that his judgments are sound and should not be questioned One thing he does not keep under wraps is himself Bush is extraordinarily accessible to reporters having held more formal and spontaneous news conferences in one year than Reagan held in eight Bush is deft at defending his policies and sparring verbally with reporters without making a gaffe but he does not shed much new light on his administration's activities domestic agenda Bush's first-yea- r reflected the ' ' ': his 1 1 2if :: ' :$0:i1: 1 Arafts0 mteit '' " rx ii : 0 - :::- 4- r-7- t :':F40--- v: ! t '' ' if - 0 k 0- - a:: Iii'''' rtitti'11-'- ' national security adviser Brent - '"- " - - :'':": ti":::: - e - :: '::' ' ' ": '1'i':H' r (::::::: day-to-da- 1 down-to-eart- 4 r 1e i 174-s- 1 t '1 :771 Newspapers — He has put WASHINGTON Gen Manuel Noriega behind bars but he has yet to offer a vision for the nation's future He has watched communist governments in Eastern Europe topple but his domestic agenda is the least ambitious for a new administration in modern times And his foreign policy has been a series of ad hoc reactions to events unfolding abroad Yet George Bush is marking his first year in office with the highest approval rating ever recorded for a president at this stage in his term The nation's 41st chief executive has defied historical trends and conventional political wisdom by getting off to a cautious crawl rather than a bold dash And the public appears to approve overwhelmingly Except for last month's invasion of Panama to capture Gen Noriega Bush cannot point to any major domestic or foreign policy achievements to account for his political sucKnight-Ridde- A3 The Salt Lake Tribune Sunday January 21 1990 gains tax cut violated the terms of a accord and bipartisan budget-defici- t poisoned their relations In foreign affairs Bush got off to a an agreegood start by negotiating ment with Congress to enbd Reagans most unpopular foreign policy — military aid for the Contras in Nicaragua He also endorsed a widely praised debt relief plan for Third World countries Bush was criticized in the spring for not countering Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev's arms cut proposals so the president responded by proposing major cuts in US and Soviet conventional arms in Europe Bush's only controversial foreign move was his secret decision to rel contacts with Chisume na's leadership despite widespread US outrage over the massacre of high-leve- demonstrators in Tiananmen Square last June and a crackdown on political freedoms Bush who considers himself a China expert took a rare gamble on the belief that he could persuade the Beijing government to end the political repression and vindicate his unpopular move — ' q4 — 1 x4::::::::t::::::i::::::I-:::- - ::::“:::-::::::::::i0- re"--------------1------11m"—L- ::: eJ'::-- v:::P::::VJ f ) ::: - :::::7 !:?::: IA I t4 III -- 1 -4 4I g'''''' :: - ''T1 rft':$:::-- It k00-: :: :: " ---' (I es Oil Ciettl:? 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'''::::: 1 ' 7 ':: ' :7:'8:: ' V :4P kt :'ctokik l': i - 10 : 'f itilk - :: i' ' !: : :: '''' :'::':::: 4: '''''''' :4:'''''I''''' :IV44' 414: - - t ' c'f -- "S -1r s I C-- ) 1)-- 7"IN"10 '' i't:7"!:: ::' i2: ': c:::: : :'' ' :±1:-:"- 1 t- : - 1'1 v :rv :':::::::::::::::::iieitli:'':: '- l- :::0: : ':: - :':4: 01'1':AI' t ': tl - Ilk ':::!!i:11::::''::"!::'' 4:-::- ci :::: I '''''' '''4i v 1 tl t) ot ': ' - Att:f :" m '''"1:rN ''' ' :: (1 e 1 writip: 4'::f - : --- : United Press International ProdEN X: :::''''''::1111111111: el'il — —Assomted Press Loserphoro Stormy weather couldn't keep Bush from his first superpower summit as president I Reagan's book Bush Taking a page form former-Presideturns cowboy to help Montana celebrate its centennial He met Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev in December aboard ship In Malta The rigors of Washington can't keep Bush from golf Critics Say Thornburgh Biggest Disappointment in Bush Cabinet By W Dale Nelson Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON — The moderate pragmatic Cabinet members brought into office by President Bush are still at their desks as the administration begins its second year but if history Is any guide one or more of them will be leaving soon Critics have targeted Edw ion Secretary Lauro Cavazos as the weakest link in the Bush Cabinet Housing and Urban Development Secretary Jack Kemp has emerged as the most outspoken Cabinet member and Attorney General Dick Thornburgh as Iprobably its biggest disappointment Yet such criticism is no barometer of staying power The surest bet at the start of Bush's second year is that his administration will not follow the pattern of the Reagan presidency when the first Cabinet official to depart was the secretary of state Alexander M Haig Jr Bush's secretary of state James Baker is a longtime ally "There is no doubt that James Baker is the strong man of the Cabinet" said presidential scholar Stephen Hess of the Brookings Institution Year Two of an administration generally sees the first departures from the Cabinet Martin Durkm resigned as secre tar)' of labor during President Eisenhower's second year Both John Kennedy and Richard Nixon lost their secretaries of health education and welfare in the second year: Abraham Ribicoff for Kennedy and Robert H Finch for Nixon Jimmy Carter's original appointees on the other hand lasted from his inauguration in January 1977 to July 1979 when he shook up his Cabinet in a whirlwind game of musical chairs Thornburgh has been in his position longer than any of the others He was named attorney general by Reagan in August 1988 and was kept on by Bush He had been governor of Pennsylvania and before that an assistant attorney general "When he was appointed I rejoiced" said Norman Ornstein a scholar at the conservative American Enterprise Institute "I thought at that time that he had the potential to be a great attorney general He still has that potential" But Ornstein and others said Thornburgh has not lived up to expectations "He had a good reputation as a really broad-mindeperson but he has taken the narrowest perspective on national security" said Landis Jones a professor of political science at the University of Louisville and former director of the White House Fellows program ''l am a forit-yr Pennsylvanian and I would have d - i ' ' ' ' 411111h s ' emla )"-- 1"'"" 410 ' -' : it e: Ae' '' I ' 4sx tea 4 f 14o ammot z ' INk"'-- ' 0riii James Baker -- '' but been a very successful governor who had the usual fine antenna of the politician would have had a far less rocky first year than he has had" While Thornburgh is one of the most politically experienced of the Cabinet Cavazos a former university president and medical school dean is one of the least The Washington Post recently article headed carried a front-pag"Cavazos Gets Low Marks" that quoted critical remarks by educators e Lour° Cavazos Richard Thornburgh thought he might have been much better" The attorney general has drawn criticism particularly from liberals for steps to tighten control on public information from his department and for legal moves he says are needed to protect state secrets in cases He also was accused of heavy-hande- d dealings with Congress in the unsuccessful fight to have William Lucas confirmed as his civil rights chief On the other hand Gary Bauer White House domestic policy adviser under Reagan and now head of the Family Research Council said that "basically conservatives and certainly our group feel very good about him" And Amy Moritz executive director of the National Center for Public Policy Research told the Heritage Foundation in a recent sur Iran-Cont- Jack Kemp "It's good to have an attorney general with guts" Justice Department spokesman David Runkel dismissed criticism of his boss as -- a lot of inside the Beltway chatter by people who haven't taken the time to find out what's go mg on in the Department of Justice" vey Runkel called assertions that Thornburgh has difficult relations with Congress "absolute nonsense" However the budget increase for the Justice Department could be attributed to the congressional rush to support efforts to combat drugs Nither than a particular endorsement of the attorney general Hess a White House aide in the Eisenhower administration said "One would have thought that Thornburgh not only as a person who has been an assistant attorney general in a previous administration about the education secretaryss effectiveness Cavazos responded by saying he remained "committed to helping George Bush be the education president" and White House spokesman Marlin Fitzwater told reporters "He has the job as long as he wants it Still there have been suggestions that he could be the first to go Cavazos suffers in The low-kesome eyes by comparison with his flamboyant predecessor William J Bennett now director of the federal drug control program Hess described the Education Department as "in many ways a very modest agency" but said "You can as Bill Bennett proved turn it into a It just strikes me that bully pulpit this fellow doesn't have those sort of y skills" Bauer said "The jury is still out on whether you are going to get the kind of attention that I think to to to get if you are going tu put education on the front burner Bush's Cabinet consists of the heads of the 14 departments plus Richard Darman director of the Office of Management nd Budget and Carla Hills 11 S trade representa five Bauer said conservatives many of them skeptical of Darman because of his long association with Baker have been pleasantly surprised that he has held the line on things like taxes As for Baker many conservatives have never liked him and they still don't In the Heritage Foundation survey which asked five conservative leaders to give report card grades to the Cabinet members Baker's marks ranged from C to But then conservative political consultant Craig Shirley said in an interview It may be one of those situations where whoever is secretary of state conservatives aren It particularly satisfied because they don't like the State Department an- way Most observers lterA iewed expressed no strong views one way or another on the remaining Cabinet members Most of the Cabinet members have been out of sight most of the time" said Robert Roberts an assoelate professor of political science at James Madison Universit‘ in Harrisonburg Va IP 1 1 I rter4-vt- ! 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