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White's brief remarks in Little Rock ended with these words: "In summary . . . the deficit problem is growing worse and must be dealt with through a multiyear, specific deficit-reduction program with real targets, one that is published now and shows significant progress in this decade." Clinton could not have put it better himself, and he quickly reiterated the salient points in White's presentation, cleverly tying his analysis to White's by asking "Is that correct?" Assured that he had indeed accurately reflected what his staff had prompted White to say, the President-elect remarked, "Thank you very | much. It was a terrific job." To those who knew what was going on, Clinton's smile seemed just a little wicked.
Clinton was pleased, but the message has received less play than he would like. "Frankly, I'm surprised that it hasn't been understood more widely," he says. "We're going to have to work on that. I told you it wasn't going to be easy." No doubt Clinton will himself take an increasingly active role in spreading the news, but the collusion between White and Clinton in Little Rock may be a model for future setups. Clinton, it should be noted, believes change requires dialogue -- or at least its patina. "People engaged by their leaders in a conversation feel better about the outcome even if they would prefer a different one, simply because they are given a chance to have their say," Clinton says. "Dialogue is the way to teach" -- and the best instructors confect it when it doesn't occur naturally.
They began calling him "Slick Willie" long ago. The Arkansan who coined the sobriquet didn't mean it as a compliment. But as Clinton the teacher grows into leadership, the nation will have to learn another lesson: slick is a word that need not always be interpreted pejoratively.