European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - August 19, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 10 the stars and stripes columns Haynes Johnson Reagan s Praise of Bush raises new questions new Orleans in answer to democratic taunts of where was George president Reagan has assured the nation that George was there while unwittingly compounding vice president George Bush s political problem. Not that Bush needs help in that department. His capacity for administering self inflicted wounds is great enough As his Airport arrival Here tuesday again demonstrated. While awaiting the departure of the reagans in a televised scene that symbolized the pass ing of the Republican leadership Baton Bush gestured toward his mexican american daughter in Law s Chil Dren and referred to them As the Little Brown  it was one of those unfortunate slips that continue to plague Bush politically and that made Reagan s unintentionally ineffectual attempt to boost Bush s presidential prospects All the More ironic. The question that lingers after Reagan s de sense of his vice president is not where Bush was Dur ing the glorious triumphs of the 1980s, As Reagan proclaims them to be. The new question raised by the president s prime time nationally televised address before republicans Here is what was Bush doing Dur ing the Reagan years to hear Reagan Tell it Bush played a great role in paper work reduction and cutting bureaucratic red tape. That kind of presidential citation implicitly praising Bush As glorified clerk and Green Eye Shade paper Shuffler can t be the kind of accolade that Bush s political strategists were seeking from the great  but that was the impression left. Reagan was Halfway through his super dome speech before he turned to Bush s administration role and accomplishments. Early in the first term he said we set out to reduce Federal regulations that had been imposed on the people on businesses and on local and state governments. Today i m proud to say we have eliminated so Many unnecessary regulations that government required paper work imposed on citizens businesses and other Levels of government has been reduced by an estimated 600 million Man hours a  Reagan paused for dramatic effect. Then in forceful tones he bestowed his medal and George was there. He headed up the task Force that eliminated those  the president did go on to credit Bush with playing a major role in everything we be accomplished and among other things characterized him As someone who s not afraid to speak his mind and who can Cut to the Core of an  but his words Only served to underscore difficulties surrounding the greatest in Leo Rangell answered question arising out of this Republican National convention from the beginning. That had nothing to do with the synthetic suspense generated Over the vice presidential Choice a process that came perilously close to being overplayed before the Selec Tion of sen. Dan Quayle of Indiana. Bush and his opera Tives had dragged out that selection so Long that it began to raise questions about whether Bush was playing a cynical Media manipulation game or was indecisive. The real question facing Bush concerns political trans Ference and acceptance. Can he assume the Mantle that Reagan attempts to drape Over him without being Over whelmed by it will the Republican party accept him As its unquestioned Leader Reagan s convention appearance Here demonstrates beyond question not Only that he still commands Republican loyalties and affections but also clearly enjoys his starring role. His ballyhooed Farewell address monday night was far from his Best. It was too Long lacked freshness tried to do too much for effective political rhetoric and was delivered in uncharacteristically Flat style. To this reporter Reagan s arrival speech sunday at the new Orleans convention Center was better. In purely Politi Cal terms measured by ability to stir a crowd and create emotion it was the Best political speech i be seen in years. Even better was his stage setting political video a Slick and powerful paean to Reagan esque patriotism that aired immediately before his convention address. Here was a pre eminent example of what author Garry wills has called Reagan s fabulous Quality one literally bom of ability to weave together fables into a compelling Happy ending Hollywood drama. It was a performance that also made you wonder whether Reagan s Farewell to his party like Sarah Bernhardt s Farewell to the stage might be premature. The divine Sarah the greatest actress of her Day made so Many Farewell appearances before her death in 1923 that for decades to come play goers in obscure tank towns swore that they had witnessed her final and greatest theatrical performance. Bush could Well Hope that the same will not be so with Reagan and that he will escape invidious comparison with the greatest political performer since Franklin d. Roosevelt. C Washington Post character not Charisma should be what counts Charisma who has it and who has t has been a preoccupation in this presidential election Campaign As in Many others. There should be another question How Good is Charisma for the body politic and in human affairs prejudice is not Only about race color and Creed. There is a collective myth that de Means Public figures who do things Well and honorable but without the need for thunderous applause or to move the group to near hysteria. Charisma is to be scrutinized not Fol Lowed. The effect that it produces in those it influences is regressive not enhancing. The Bond Between the Leader and the emotionally led is based on an unconscious identification. The Follower thinks feels temporarily believes that he is the other that he has the Power Success sex Appeal of the admired Leader or his love. The link is based on illusion not reality. Fantasy is encouraged rational thinking impaired. The word Charisma comes from the greek for favor. Those who possess it make promises and those who submit to it Hope for the favor of the blessed one. It is deeply human on both sides. It appears in the Bible where the subject of Charisma deals with the forms of obtain ing divine Grace. The readiness of the populace to fall into line to plead to be the ones to be so graced accounts not Only for the follow Ings behind religious leaders but also for the ubiquitous support ready and Avail Able behind inspired leaders in any Field. Franz Anton Mesmer an austrian physician added a new word to our language. Scientists of the period noted the frequent occurrence of somnambulist in states and hypnotic like trances attendant to the application of his magnetic cures. A committee which included Benjamin Franklin set up by the French government to investigate Mesmer s work found no scientific Validity to his theory of animal magnetism. But his observations the social stratification and interpersonal influences Between those who would control and those who seek to be controlled persists. In psychotherapy alongside rational therapy there remains an equal pull to the magical and mystical. The audiences of the bakkers and the swag arts continue undiminished. Large numbers of people were mesmerized by Oliver l. North slipped readily under his hypnotic spell and shouted for him to be president. At a time in history when Charisma seems to be emerging As a major qualification for the presidency and training in the entertainment Industry a Road to its attain rent the populace May be enjoying a moment of rest and sanity to be cherished. One of the greatest communicators in political history who because of his Tal ent is immune from Ordinary scrutiny and accountability is nearing the end of his term. We May be approaching a period when the new leaders will need to explain and justify their deeds and be held accountable. With Michael s. Dukakis George Bush and Lloyd Bentsen being demeaned As lacking the trait of commanding inspiration the people can go Forward this time without being in a trance. This is not by Way of derogating the role and desirability of inspirational leaders and models like a spirited teacher to whom a creative individual May owe his Start. But this depends on a pres ence not an image. Charisma does not preclude the presidency but should not be its requirement. Presidents Roosevelt and Kennedy had it and were Good leaders. Harry s. Truman came in without it and was a positive president As Well. Winston Churchill had it big and used it to Good ends. But so did recent and past totalitarian dictators come in on a beam of charismatic Power with nefarious consequences to those who bestowed it. It is character not Charisma that counts. Character comprises one s total expect Able behaviour and performance what one demonstrates and the record he accumulates toward achieving and maintaining his goals. There is a Complex often contradictory Agenda in life. At stake to be assessed is the total behaviour of those who would serve How much one agrees with what each candidate says he will do and How much one feels he will do what he says. The electorate might have the luxury this time of choosing on this basis. It turns out to be More Complex. In his own electrifying speech to the Conven Tion Jesse Jackson praised Dukakis strength of character and his not stoop ing to demagoguery. The danger has not been from that direction. Dependability seems to be Dukakis Central trait. Char Acter itself should be enough even if it has less Chance of winning. But with Rea son at the reins and Charisma on Board the american people seem to have been offered the most interesting package within memory. Awaiting what comes from the other Side of the political Fence this should be an unusual Opportunity and a telling election. Washington Post columnist ranged is a past presi Dent of the american and the International psychoanalytic associations