European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - May 7, 1989, Darmstadt, Hesse                                The Bush style methodic presidency by Walter r. Wears associated press resident Bush with More than three months in Soltice. Is doing us about what he said he was going to do changing things slowly operating methodically nothing drastic Little drama that is the approach he described before the inauguration and the one he defends now. I m a practical Man Bush said the other Day. I like what s Teal. I m not much for the airy and the abstract. And i like what works " whether the Bush method is working or not depends on who is judging Early on the president found in necessary to deny that his administration was Drifting without Clear purpose beset by malaise the dread political affliction diagnosed during Jimmy Carter s one teem presidency there remain suggestions that Bush has described no Clear purpose and that his own identity remains indistinct ill defined. That does t seem to be bothering most americans the Public opinion polls show solid approval ratings Lor the Way he is doing his Job. Reagan came to office with a Clear Mission and Agenda Ronald who by Ruth Sinai associated Pressw Hen organizers at Arizona slate University invited Ronald Reagan to give a speech last month less than one fourth of the 10,000 tickets were sold and the former president agreed to waive his $50,000 fee. Reagan the great communicator who commanded huge audiences until he left office is dropping off America s political radar rapidly. At this rate he will Settle soon into comfortable obscurity with presidential has beens Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter. Another former president Richard Nixon retains somewhat More visibility through writing on International political issues. Was there any reason to think that Reagan s immense popularity during his Ollice would translate into prominence in retirement probably not presidency watchers agree. They differ however on whether it s the nature of the Man or the nature of the system which is responsible. Reagan 78, still works hard in his offices atop a los Angeles skyscraper his aides say. He writes speeches on such favorite topics As the need Lor a constitutional amendment to require balanced budgets and an end to the eight year limit on presidents terms in office. He has joined the Board of the conservative Magazine National review and is planning to write his memoirs Bush with congressional leaders in april announcing Accord on spending Lor fiscal 1990 House minority whip Newt Gingrich Lett House majority Leader Tom Fotey sen. Pete do Mencl and House speaker Jim Wright. Rein in government and Cut taxes. Those goals overrode everything else during his first months in office. Bush had no such program and said so before he took office you re looking for a dramatic two Point program or  he told an interviewer asking about his Agenda for the first 100 Days. We Don t need a two Point program. To need to Correct one big problem and we need to build on some tremendous successes and we need to capitalize on changes in the world " thai s at least the approach i m going to bring to the  Bush said in january. And now a do not feel compelled or pressed because of a column hero or a column there to reach out for something  but Bush and his advisers did feel the need Lor a Campaign paced six slate swing in april to say and show that a Lack of drama does not mean a Lack of action. My starting Point has been a rep act for american institutions for Congress Lor the dedicated civil servants of the executive Branch Lor slate and local governments for the concept of Public service the president told annual luncheon of the associated press in chicago.". The emphasis is on cooperation not confrontation As the surest route to  this has meant Compromise on some Points on which Reagan would t Budge. But that fits the Bush premise that Federal government can and should help solve problems. Reagan maintained that government usually was the problem not the cure. Bush said before taking office that the voters did t elect him to bring drastic change to government. That s not what i am about he said. People understood that when they were voting. They weren t looking Lor a Radical  there have been shifts but most have come gradually on selected issues not As part of any grand design. That leads Back to the question of whether there is a grand design for the Bush presidency. None shows yet but Bush has had Only three months of the 48 in this term there s a Long Road ahead of  to said. And i am optimistic that our reforms will produce lasting results that the Long Range planning we do today will pay Oil in the Lulu re that our consultations with Congress will result in Progress in Domestic and International affairs As  his Success in reaching those goals will determine which historical parallel comes closest to tilling his first 100 Days. But he has been virtually mum on the presidency of his successor George Bush and he is rarely mentioned in Washington. The Only prominent notice to received in recent months was when the White House conceded that chief of stall John Sununu admonished aides to refrain from unfavourable comparisons Between the relaxed president Reagan and the More Active Bush. It s not unusual and not at All atypical historically for a Lormer president to slip from  said Stephen Hess a presidential scholar at the Brookings institution an Independent think tank. The Advent of a new president is accompanied by a flurry of Media attention and Public curiosity Hess said and the former White House occupant generally just drifts away from Power. Some Lormer presidents have returned to the spotlight As elder statesmen several years later coming Back into Vogue once a historical perspective of their presidency has been established. Such was the Case with Harry Truman who left office in 1953 an unpopular Leader but was seen in a far More favourable Light in the 1960s and until he died in 19?a presidents who cannot Bear the obscurity of retirement Are rare. Theodore Roosevelt did t want to be an sex president so he ran against fellow Republican William Howard aft in 1912. His run split the Republican vote and gave Democrat Woodrow Wilson the White House. Another Way for former presidents to steal the limelight is to take a shot at their successor. Thus Jimmy Carter made news in 1981 when to criticized Reagan s budget proposal sunday May 1989 for placing too much emphasis on defense spending and not enough on Domestic programs. But most sex presidents Are obliging and they stay out of the hair of the current occupant of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue the White House said Benjamin Ginsberg a professor of government at Cornell University. Ginsberg and several other scholars and consultants believe Bush aides were particularly anxious that Reagan maintain a Low profile for the time being Bush lived in Reagan s Shadow Lor eight years. Now he needs to establish himself As an Independent and distance himself in some  Ginsberg said. Reagan is not about to upstage Bush said Tom kor dogs. A lobbyist and Reagan Friend who once served the Nixon and Ford administrations As a legislative aide. Reagan did More Lor Bush than any other president has done for his up and now he knows it   he said. Bush does t mention his predecessor very often As he seeks to subtly move away from some of the Domestic and foreign policies known As the Reagan legacy. For example in reaching a Compromise agreement with Congress on Aid to the nicaraguan contras. Bush effectively killed future military Aid to the rebels a cause dear to Reagan s heart. It s a Mark of Reagan s respect for Bush that he has bitten his lip and avoided statements even on the things he Felt so passionately about like the contras said Stuart Eizenstat who served As Carter s Domestic policy adviser and is currently a political consultant. The stars and stripes Page 13