European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 20, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                The stars and stripes Page 13 commentary Carl Rowan Hillary Clinton lawyer 3 a a o a a Baker when challenged about her Law career Hillary Clinton snapped a i suppose i could have stayed Home and baked some cookies and had  that was pounced on by the foes of Arkansas gov. Bill Clinton As a snobbish remark in which his wife was ridiculing the women who stay a Home bake Tea cakes change diapers and raise children. It was taken by others As a declaration that in modern times american women have a right to pursue a career a that indeed some must work if they Are to guarantee their children comfortable fives and Good educations. Whatever Hillary Clinton meant it is Clear that she has aroused american passions Over what kind of a first lady we prefer. History does not give Clear guidance Woodrow Wilson a wife Ellen was an activist abomination personally forcing rigid Jim Crow upon the nations  there was Eleanor Roosevelt writing a column and doing a radio show speaking at Black protest meetings going into the bowels of Coal mines to inquire into the safety of workers. Her detractors such As the late columnist Westbrook Pegler called her a Madame gadabout and a the first nuisance of the  yet this Independent activist woman was repeatedly voted the a most admired and the a first lady of the  writers free of Pegler a venom dubbed her a lady big  so is Eleanor Roosevelt the prototype of the Ideal wife of a . President not necessarily. Rosalynn Carter is one of the Mildest most in aggressive women in be Ever known. But the Media got the notion that through Pillow talk or something she was mating decisions for Jimmy such As literacy but who stays aloof from the political frays except for strategic interventions when she thinks her husband is in deep trouble. If the presidential election winds up a Battle Between Bush and Clinton count is Tedter a the Quot steel on millions of voters to make compari  Barbara Bush May look Ideal to voters Ages 60 to 80 and beyond. But there is a generational Gap and a Donald Regan and other top officials who crossed her. Barbara Bush is widely admired As the traditional first lady who espouses causes Tom Teepen real world Factor Here Hillary Clinton represents the colossal increase in the number of women who Are in the work Force by Choice or necessity. The Bureau of labor statistics reports that in 1991, 22.3 million women with children younger than 18 were in the work Force a 66.6 percent compared with 30.4 percent in 1960. The 1990 census figures show that 53 percent of women with Newborn babies were in the work Force up from 38 percent just 10 years earlier. A total of 11,770,000 families Are headed by women a 17.6 percent of All families compared with 10 percent in 1960. Millions of women have Learned to work eight or More hours a Day and still bake cookies. Look for Hillary Clinton to prove soon that she can argue a complicated court Case Rush out to advocate some new social policy and still get Home in time to whip up a Batch of brownies. Shed better. Because defining the role of the wife of the next president can win a or lose a millions of votes. North a Morinn  should name running mate now the final. Poor Bill Clinton the polls suggest could use a Quick shot of instant integrity so Here a a slightly off the Wall idea. Well at least it Isnit off the rack How about pretty quickly naming a running mate of unassailable rectitude a Little innocence by association  Hurt. With a clean sweep of four primaries this month and with Paul Tsongas Urisen Clinton would seem a again a to be sailing toward the democratic presidential nomination though he will be buffeted along the Way by Jerry Brown. Now he needs to begin mane vering toward the real task posing a credible Challenge to president Bush a re election. To do that however Clinton first must re establish himself As a candidate known More for his ideas than for his voter fretting personal flaws and for his dodgy answers to straight questions. Clinton can do some of that on his own. Barring further awkward revelations he can begin to emphasize anew the economic and social themes with which he debuted his candidacy and let such matters As the draft Fina gling and marijuana puffing of his student Days recede into the larger context of his political career. But it would help if the Clinton candidacy were joined by a widely respected partner. And really Why wait. Playing it cute about the vice presidential selection has become a gimmick for giving today a fore gone conclusion political conventions a Little phony drama but the Clinton candidacy already has had More drama than a Broadway season. No mysteries remain to Cloud a Clinton vice presidential decision. Bush has said he will keep Dan Quayle As the nations Foremost overachiever and probably Means it. Quayle stands Between the president and the Complete disaffection of the gop right so no Surprise is Likely from that Quarter. It docs t appear that Clinton will need to hold the vice presidential nomination As a bargaining Chip to assure his own first ballot nomination and the data for whatever demographic calculations nominee Clinton would make during the democratic convention Are just As available now. Democratic voters Are staying away from their primaries in droves. The Elvis postage stamp Rel Brendum May have a bigger turnout. Many who do vote say Clinton lacks the integrity to be president Many claim they will vote for Bush if Clinton is the nominee. Some of that reflects a typical sulk by constituencies disappointed that their Guy Isnit making it most of those voters will Drift to their party a nominee by the time of the election. Some comes from a general unfocused voter anger Bush gets hit by that too. And some results from the fact that Clinton is new to National politics and in their sour mood voters Are prepared to believe the worst of him. But part of the unease has been incited by Clinton a own missteps. Lash Clinton to a widely respected running mate for moral ballast and he might have an easier time gaining a hearing on the larger merits of his Case. Anyway the Early formation of a Clinton somebody ticket at least would let the democrats Road test its issues and use its convention not to begin a Campaign but to supercharge one already under Way. Hmm. C Cox news service