The Presidential Character: Predicting Performance in the White House, With a Revised and Updated Foreword by George C. Edwards III by James David Barber

Author:James David Barber [Barber, James David]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: History & Theory, Political Science, Executive Branch, American Government, General
ISBN: 9781000727449
Google: kj63DwAAQBAJ
Publisher: Routledge
Published: 2019-10-17T12:51:01+00:00

The Fictionalization of Politics

That one can carry off an act like Reagan's without control and calculation—by just "being oneself while strolling through the media minefield—is a myth beyond credibility. At least since his Hollywood days, he has been used to having his appearance managed by others. He approached playing Governor of California the same way, by following his directors. Then, when trouble came, as when a homosexual clique was found in his administration, "Ronnie was told as much, but, as he always did in emotionally difficult and complex situations, he distanced himself from the realities and went on."144 When he finished being governor, a public relations firm, Deaver and Hannaford, took over the task of directing him. The same director/star relationship continued in his Presidential politics.

What was made to look like a Reagan move was often a performance directed by others. For instance, there was Reagan's famous performance at the 1980 "debate" in New Hampshire, in which the audience saw an indignant Reagan stride onto the stage and insist that all the other candidates, not just George Bush, should have their chance to say their piece. That broke the agreed-upon rules, so the editor of one of the sponsoring newspapers asked that Reagan's microphone be turned off. Reagan the wounded bear turned on him and spoke: "I paid for this microphone, Mr. Green!" Bush looked foolish, Reagan looked simultaneously democratic and in charge. Political reporter David Broder turned to his colleague Lou Cannon and said, "Reagan is winning this primary right now."145 For that and other reasons, Reagan did go on to win big in New Hampshire: he got more votes than the other six candidates put together.

But the management of Reagan is all the more effective for being invisible. In this not untypical case, Reagan's manager John Sears got the idea of inviting the other candidates to the scheduled Reagan-Bush debate—and Sears went ahead and asked them without even telling Reagan, much less getting his okay, until noon of the day of the debate itself. When Bush, through his manager (and Reagan aide-to-be) James Baker refused to agree that the others should speak, here came grim-visaged Reagan, pacing up the aisle to the platform with the alphabetic four trailing behind him: Anderson, Baker, Crane, and Dole. Beside him, though, walked his aide Jim Lake, and to Lake Reagan was saying, "What am I supposed to do? What exactly am I supposed to do?" Lake said, "We're going to go up there. You're going to make this statement that these guys should be allowed to speak. If they leave, you've got to stay and debate." Reagan walked up and sat down. Lake sent a Secret Service agent up with a note: "Give 'em hell, Governor. The whole place is with you." Scowling Reagan looked up a moment and gave Lake a wink. Then stern and indignant, he played out the part.146

That is why thankful movie stars, receiving their Academy Awards, pay homage to their unseen but essential directors and producers.

The

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