THE PRESIDENCY by HUGH SIDEY: Why Small-Town Boys Make Good

What do Dixon, Boise, Saint Johns, Mission, Westminster, Shirkieville, Floresville and Clio have in common? If, understandably, the light does not dawn, try this: Laurinburg, Walters, Rumford, Mitchell, Everett, Doland and Pocantico Hills. In case the riddle is still not solved, two more names should give it away: Plains and Grand Rapids.

The list, of course, includes the birthplaces and/or home towns of current and former Presidential Hopefuls (in order) Reagan, Church, Udall, Bentsen, Shriver, Bayh, Connally, Wallace, Sanford, Harris, Muskie, McGovern, Jackson, Humphrey, Rockefeller, Carter and Ford.

All qualify, with only a little imagination here (Rockefeller) and there (Ford), as small-town...

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