European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 4, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                West German Chancellor Helmut Kohl receiving a traditional bread and Salt Welcome gift while campaigning last month in Cottbus on behalf of the conservative East German Alliance for Germany which is supported by Kohls Christian democratic Union  Helmut will Kohl be first Chancellor of reunited Germany by Diana Jean Schemo Baltimore Sun h he Roar of crowds in Leipzig and Dresden up chanting Quot Helmut Helmut Quot and the a unexpected landslide of his Christian h democrats in East Germany s first free elections has West German Chancellor Helmut Kohl Riding High these Days. Less than a year after members of his own party were wondering if the awkward outwardly Humble politician would keep his Post through West German elections in december 1990, the crumbling of the Berlin Wall has catapulted Kohl into possibly the first chancellors hip of a reunited Germany. For the unassuming son of a Rhineland civil servant who Speaks no foreign language and is often ridiculed for his accent and halting speech the moment is Rich in satisfaction. Tuesday he basked in adulation As 3,000 invited guests came to congratulate him at a 60th birthday reception in Bonn. But Kohl s satisfaction has been mostly private. For there Are no votes in gloating and Kohl is nothing if not a political animal. A if Kohl sits with an intellectual for an hour at the end he wants to know a what a the Bottom line if the Guy can to say Kohl leaves Quot one political insider said. Quot head rather spend the hour with three of his political sidekicks at a bar. That snot  those who make a living watching and working with him attribute his Success to an uncanny knowledge of his party functionaries. Kohl spends several hours a Day on the phone with them. He remembers birthdays and anniversaries. Anyone who counts for anything in the lowest Lander to Federal state she knows their names and their backgrounds Quot said Thomas Killinger editor of Bonne a Mischer Merkur newspaper. Quot he is such a shrewd operator. He knows the levers of  Quot Kohl is Able to create a human feeling of attachment to the grass roots of his party Quot said one ambassador. Quot that a where his strength lies. He  As the German democratic Republic struggled to find its own political voice its candidates unable to pack an election Hall on their own Kohl barnstormer through East Germany sweeping votes for the Christian democrats shy diminutive Leader Lothar de Maiziere in his Wake. Now de Maiziere remains indebted to Kohl a Man with a Knack for creating and collecting Lous. The government de Maiziere puts together will undoubtedly Bear the chancellors imprint. A the Winner of the East German elections was very much Chancellor Kohl and he put very much pressure on the East German Christian democrats to forge a grand coalition with the social democrats Quot said one analyst in Bonn. Quot Many of the policies on currency and economic Union Are being drafted in our government offices not in East  the Chancellor also Brooks no disloyalty or challenges to his Rule despite his outward modesty. After months of Defiance in the party ranks last Spring and summer he replaced those he considered to be disloyal in a series of lightning moves at the cd party Congress last fall. There have been no challenges since then. It is Kohls impatience with anything less than total Devotion that also accounts for his contempt of journalists observers in Bonn said. Quot every time he sees a journalist he either throws a fit twists his tie in his hands or makes some silly remark to the person standing next to him Quot said Killinger whose paper supports Kohl. According to observers Kohls ouster of his foes within his party was typical of his style they say his Talent lies in waiting until the moment is Ripe and then leaping into action. Where Kohl runs into trouble often is in failing to look around before leaping. His 10-Point plan in november for German reunification set West Germany s allies buzzing Over his failure to first consult them and his months of equiv Cating on the polish Border hardly calmed Germany a neighbors. But in both of those incidents the excitement seemed More Over form than substance German Unity could of course not go Forward without approval by the four victorious Powers of world War ii. And few except perhaps Poland believed a unified Germany would seriously try to redraw its Borders. Now with the East German elections behind him Chancellor Kohl is Back to mending relations with Germany a allies and slowing the Pace of reunification. But for All of his swaying on the polish Border question Kohls party suffered not a bit in popularity polls which lately show the cd leading 42 percent Over the social democrats s 37 percent. Quot the underdog in him always gets the upper hand and wins Quot Killinger said. Quot he has this unarticulated rapport with the deep rooted unspoken views of the silent  but it is anyone a guess How the Ward Boss will shape up As world Leader. One thing seems certain though he will take statesmanlike positions Only so far As they can be supported by his electorate. Unlike the social democrats whose Leader Oskar Lafontaine Speaks of Quot vision Quot and the Long Range problems of unification Kohl promises simply to take care of it. A let them have the vision Quot one Diplomat Here said describing Kohls assessment of the spa. Quot Well get the  the overriding question in the months to come will be Kohls Success in keeping German reunification moving Forward without alienating West German voters who already Are proving impatient with the East German Drain on their social welfare coffers. As one analyst noted Kohl will not Likely be remembered in history books As a charismatic Leader of the German people. But he could be the Man who finally carries off German unification in his patient plodding and occasionally leaping Way. Wednesday april 4, 1990 the stars and stripes a a a Page 13