The Nation: Fred Harris Slept Here

Richard Nixon, Charles de Gaulle and many other politicians have believed a leader needs “mystery”; he must keep a certain distance from the people. Democratic Presidential Candidate Fred Harris, on the contrary, wants to get as close as possible. On the campaign trail he likes to stay in private homes and gives each host an engraved invitation to sleep in the White House for a night “after I am elected” (see cut).

Harris is getting a lot of overnight invitations. This not only gratifies his populist instincts but cuts down on cam paign expenses. Harris will not be able to hide much — whether he eats crack ers in bed or is cranky before his morn ing orange juice. There is something to be said for a little distance.