European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - February 24, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                By Paul Richter the los Angeles times nature did t give him a pretty face or a stirring voice but in 24 years of Long shot races Paul e. Tsongas has had one thing every politician needs Luck in his first congressional run during the watergate trauma of 1974, his opponent was crushed under Richard m. Nixon s fall when Tsongas sought a Senate seat in 1978, a leading primary opponent was sidelined in a car wreck and the once invincible incumbent sen. Edward Brooke was embarrassed by a Messy divorce and on tuesday this product of a Mill town called Lowell mass., won the new Hampshire democratic presidential primary that was expected to go to Arkansas gov Bill Clinton until controversies about Clinton s past got in the Way Quot the legend in Lowell is that unlucky things happen to people who run against me Quot says Tsongas who has won All six of his political campaigns. His Good Fortune is Only one of the unlikely elements that have combined in the career of a politician who has now survived a first critical test in his race for the democratic nomination. Paul Euthemios Tsongas the son of greek immigrants is an introspective homebody who yearns to live in the spotlight of the country a most Public Job he is an advocate of nuts and bolts economics but a Man who says he was moved to run by an almost mystical experience he had As he struggled with cancer Tsongas is a self effacing Man. But also one who admits to a Streak of self righteousness that has prompted comparisons to his hapless political colleague and the 1988 democratic nominee former Massachusetts gov Michael s Dukakis. Tsongas boasts about his love of running against obstacles and it s just As Well he faces plenty. He must overcome a fizz less to presence his identity As Quot another greek from Massachusetts Quot and his Campaign s relative Lack of Money and organization he must Lay to rest worries about his health As a Man who with a treatment then considered experimental has overcome a cancer that was considered incurable and most important he must convince the world that a mild mannered one term senator is big enough and Tough enough to walk the world stage so tar he has managed to exploit liabilities As assets. His Earnest truth telling and lugubrious appearance have readers action line Paul Taon Gaa Haa taken Hla unusual mixture of Liberal social philosophy and conservative fiscal policy to the top of the democratic presidential race. Paul Tsongas not just another greek from Massachusetts a won him voter sympathy in a year of rare anger against flashy politicians. He has gotten Good press owing to his dramatic underdog Story Candor and wry humor overlooked in to comics jokes about his dishwater dullness but even As he was surging in new Hampshire some experts were predicting his greatest Triumph would be his last. As the Campaign moved on separating him from his regional base and making him More reliant on the electronic Media he finds so difficult Tsongas would quickly be eclipsed they forecast. David Broder the respected political columnist Tor the Washington Post appeared on television last week calling Tsongas Quot the least energetic the least charismatic politician i have Ever seen Quot on the eve of his election Victory the leaders of the Senate and House of representatives were inviting other democrats to enter the race. Tsongas crusade was considered quixotic irom april 30, when he became the first Democrat to announce against a president then receiving a daunting 91 percent favourable rating. Average democrats would resist his message the analysts said he was adamantly pro business calling for capital gains tax cuts and investment tax credits and dismissing the Middle class tax Cut that others believed would have wide political Appeal. He wanted a gasoline tax and talked about capping Federal expenditures to Cut the Federal budget deficit. With this conservative economic Agenda he coupled a Liberal social platform that was staunchly behind abortion rights and civil rights for minorities and homosexuals. He advocated a Jimmy Carter style human rights Agenda abroad. But some who had campaigned against him were not Quick to dismiss him. Quot people have underestimated Paul Tsongas throughout his career Quot said Robert e. Waite who was press Secretary to sen. Brooke in 1978. These Days Tsongas Points to what he did for Lowell As a freshman congressman As proof of what he could do to rebuild the Economy of the country Tsongas and b. Joseph Tully the Veteran machine politician who was then Lowell s City manager threatened and cajoled local businessmen into putting up about $400 million toward the revitalization of Lowell s rotted Core Tsongas seat on the House banking committee helped him bring in millions in Federal Money for the project and through the National Park service scarred Mills became an elegant precinct of condominiums museums and space for a growing High technology Industry. Some detractors in his Hometown say the years on the City Council and Middlesex county commission showed a moralistic and unbending aspect to his personality Quot there is a dark Side Quot says William Taupier a former City manager who is now a real estate broker in Tsongas View a this position is always moral and if you oppose him you must be immoral Quot if Tsongas discomfited the old guard in Lowell he also unsettled some of the democratic faithful in 1980, when he underwent a political conversion that turned him against traditional democratic economics. Tsongas began his Senate career As a party line Liberal. Gradually though he became More convinced that the democrats needed to do More to support business. He provoked the Wrath of the United Auto workers in 1979, when he argued for modifications of the Chrysler bailout package that would freeze Auto workers wages for three years but the major shift came in 1980, when Tsongas told a surprised Ada convention that liberals needed to abandon their attachment to big government programs and give greater stress to stimulating the Economy on the Campaign Trail these Days Tsongas pounds Home his belief that government needs to look out for business s interests. He uses a line that makes him sound More of a business Booster than Herbert Hoover Quot As president my Job will be to grow  he promised a group in Boston last year that As president he would be Quot the Best Friend Wall Street has Ever had Quot Tsongas Points to his stand on social and rights issues the environment and Energy to establish his Liberal credentials. Tsongas sense of purpose for the next generation has meant that he tends not to become upset Over what happens in the Campaign even when commentators joke about his candidacy. And he has needed a thick skin in this Campaign a from the beginning Early last year he approached his Friend and senior Law partner Barry White to Tell him he planned to run for president Quot of what Quot a perplexed White  civilian system wont delay paychecks l  Ishin employed by the u s an Force Lor years Doloro that i served in the u s Navy for Lour years during that time my pay was delayed a maximum of two weeks alter the tune served or worked my wife has worked for Dodds in two different areas Pacific anti Europe and for the past eight years her pay has been delayed for four weeks after each pay period i d like to know Why the army in Europe has to delay payment of wages for such a Long period7 seems to me hey should have to pay interest on wages if it takes that Long to process paperwork i m not concerned Lor us because i make enough fur us to live but what about those less fortunate than as7 what is the problem7 Stephen a. Parsons Ramstein a Germany re James w. Beasley director civilian pay operations 266th the satyr finance come replies u s. Citizen civilian employees Are paid on a biweekly basis the pay period for army appropriated fund and Dodds Germany employees ends on a saturday with the civilian payday being the 12th Day after the pay period ending Date. For example the first full pay period for teachers ended on sept. 7, 1991 electronic fund transfers and checks were mailed on Friday sept. 13 with a payment Date of sept. 19. In january 1988, the u s. Army adopted a world wide uniform civilian payday that is 12 Days after the end of the pay period. The most effective Way to be sure your salary is available to you on payday is through electronic funds Transfer Eft to your Bank. Your biweekly pay is electronically sent to your Bank therefore there is no risk a Check Wilt be lost in the mail we Are available to discuss specific problems in payment and Are confident any problem related to delays can be resolved to your satisfaction please address your concerns to director civilian pay operations attn customer service division 266th tic unit 29001-04 Apo a 09007to write us readers action line is the readers Quot court of last resort Quot striving to answer some of the questions about life overseas in a military environment or gue Strons about policies and guidelines when other avenues for answers Are not readily available. If you have a question and Don t know where to turn for the answer write to readers action line co the stars and stripes. Unit 29480. Apo a 09211 Alt letters must be signed and preference will be Given to those seeking information of general interest to our readers Page 16 the stars and stripes monday february 24, 1992