European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 26, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse Page 10 a the stars and stripes column Walter r. Mear Nixon on Gorbachev consummate politician in thumbnail appraisal the Man is described As a consummate pragmatic politician a Leader who likes Power and will do what is necessary to keep it. That aim is said to have been the major influence in shaping his drastic political economic and foreign policy moves. The description comes from former president Nixon and it sounds As though he was looking in the Mirror. But it is not a self portrait it is his judgment of soviet president Mikhail s. Gorbachev a the most remarkable statesman of our the Nixon comments on Gorbachev a in a new Book an undelivered speech and a Public television interview a Are a blend of admiration for the soviet leaders ability and style and suspicion of his Aims. A despite what you May hear that he could be a closet Democrat or even a closet Christian. Gorbachev is in fact a True believing communist a Nixon says. A this goal is not to abandon communism but to save it. Not to dismantle the soviet Empire but to preserve it As demonstrated by the hard line he is taking on lithuanian Independence. A but the most dominant facet of his Complex personality is that he is a consummate pragmatic politician who likes Power knows How to use it and will do what is necessary to keep it a says Nixon who lost his own in 1974 when he resigned to avoid impeachment Over watergate. A it is this characteristic which has primarily influenced his decisions to adopt his revolutionary political economic and foreign policy Nixon made those comments in a speech he was to have delivered to the Boston world affairs Council postponed after he was diagnosed As suffering from a heart rhythm problem. Nixon 77, is recuperating at Home in Saddle River n.j., and is expected to resume his Normal schedule in about a week. In that text and his newly published eighth Book a in the Arena a Nixon a comments about the soviet Leader sometimes parallel his observations about his own career a 44 years in office in resignation and political disgrace and in what he now Calls renewal. A the is a world class strategic thinker a says Nixon a neither Saint nor a soft headed do gooder but a skilled adroit operator in his own and his nations interests. Reflecting on his own foreign policy in a Public broadcasting system interview to be broadcast May 4, Nixon says his course of detente toward Moscow a was no to soft headed negotiations but calculated to serve . Objectives. A the detente strategy hardheaded detente that i pursued worked a he said. He describes his single most dramatic foreign policy move the 1972 Mission that reopened . Links with ctr Egan Row a to Kwh. Time Nixon add / China in similar terms. He says it had nothing to do with any softening of his opposition to communism. A it had to do with strategic politically Nixon says Gorbachev a reforms do not meet american standards but have meant breathtaking change in the soviet Union. A after having had their voices stilled for Over 70 years the great silent majority of the russian people Are finally being heard a he says. That is a special phrase for Nixon As a candidate and in his Early White House years he appealed for and claimed support from a the great silent majority of my fellow Nixon Calls Gorbachev a the most intelligent and creative Leader in soviet history a and also the most powerful since Stalin. He says the instincts of the pragmatic politician led Gorbachev to his attempted reforms at Home and to acquiescence in the wave of democratic change that swept Eastern Europe. Simply put Nixon says a the had no Choice but to Reform at Home and to retrench he argues that it will not serve . Interests to help Gorbachev if that produces an economically stronger soviet Union that continues to Aid anti american regimes in the third world. He says those Moscow subsidies still amount to $ 15 billion a year in arms and economic Aid and challenges Gorbachev to end them As part of the Price of . Trade credits and technology. Still As an athlete warily praises a rival Nixon praises Gorbachev a a world class strategic thinkers and a wily Leader who will survive the perils around him. A i think he will make it a Nixon says a because he is a very capable and shrewd politician. And his political instincts will make him land on his feet even though the problems Are infinitely a vice president Walter r. Mears has reported on Washington and National politics for More than 26 years the opinions expressed in the columns and cartoons on this Page represent those of the authors and Are in no Way to be considered As representing the views of the stars and stripes or the United states Murray on Earth Day he took a hike ate an Apple Core Washington a for Earth Day i packed a lunch in my Knapsack and disdaining contraptions that feast on Fossil fuel went fora hike. Went Down Pennsylvania Avenue i did past the White House then Cut Over to the Washington Monument and ended up along the mall. What the Heck As Long As 1 was in the neighbourhood i figured i ought to join the crowd. The crowd turned out to be in the neighbourhood of half a million of Mother Earth a favorite sons and daughters celebrating her Day. I say half a million which is what to said. The organizers estimated 350,000. The Washington Post reported about 125,000. Pshaw i counted at least 125,000 people Selling to shirts. Maybe you saw it on to. For that matter maybe you saw me or John Denver Kevin Bacon or even Tom cruise. Tom cruise was the fellow with the Nice haircut. I was the fellow with the Knapsack not to be confused with the dog with the Bandana. That was the Doggone St thing i saw the whole Day a dog wearing a red Bandanna around its neck. Like they say it Wasny to so much that he wore it Well rather that he wore it at All the second Doggone est thing i saw was a Hare Krishna Rock band. I done to know much about Hare Krishna but i know Good Rock a no Roll Drums when i hear them. What i liked Best amplified As they were they were drowning out the main program a mile or so up the mall. That a about As close As i had gotten when somebody started singing a Rocky Mountain High a amplified from the Ca. Higl. Pitol Steps. If i had to guess id say lit i be been Wro it wrong was Kevin Bacon but before. No matter i finally wandered up the mall close enough to the ceremony to say in be almost seen a celebrity. Along the Way i passed one family of four a in Matching Earth Day 1990 to shirts a who had fallen by the Wayside about a mile Short of the Capitol Steps the two children both preschoolers refusing to take another step. A when someone famous comes on the program you la be sorry that you Arentt close enough to see them a argued the father probably a lawyer. The kids remained unmoved. The last i saw of them on my Way Back they still Hadnot moved. But i did no to stay Long. I did no to feel that i had to. That a the thing about celebrating the Earth. Wherever you Are you re in the neighbourhood neighbor. Besides i Felt id done my part. Indeed in be discovered How to reduce a significant portion of our garbage. Not unlike Newton i owe my revelation to an Apple. In my Case the one id packed in my Knapsack. All i did was Cut it into quarters but in doing so i Cut Down on waste. The Core problem with eating an Apple is exactly that the Apple Core a garbage to be disposed of. All you have to do is what i did Cut the thing into four parts. When you re through eating the Core has disappeared As if by magic. All that remains is a couple of seeds. Throw them on the ground. That a not pollution. That a planting. Doggone est thing in be Ever seen. Next to that dog wearing the red Bandanna of course. . Coming Back to my hotel i did no to do so Good environmentally. What with having depleted my natural Energy Supply i hailed a Fossil fuel feasting Fossil of a cab a Plymouth fury circa 1977. At least the Driver had a sign asking passengers a please do not smoke a which was More than you Coria reasonably ask of the cab Joe Murray editor publisher emeritus of the us Texas daily news is senior writer for Cox newspapers
