Don't Trust Anyone Under 45

When Georges Clemenceau, the legendary World War I French Premier, was told that his son had joined the Communist Party, he reacted with sage imperturbability. "My son is 22 years old," he said. "If he had not become a Communist at 22, I would have disowned him. If he is still a Communist at 30, I will do it then."

Americans have never been able to respond to the misguided excesses of idealistic youth with a Gallic shrug. That is why the furor over Dan Quayle's Viet Nam record has become such a polarizing issue. Once again the nation is reminded...

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