The Grail of the Golden State

As the primary season ends, Bush and Dukakis rehearse for the general election

The setting was a San Francisco TV studio, and the script called for a debate between Michael Dukakis and Jesse Jackson. But when it was Dukakis' turn for a 60-sec. summary, his first words were "this fall." He all but ignored his Democratic rival, barely mentioned next week's California primary and instead concentrated his fire on George Bush. "Some people want to build missiles," Dukakis declared. "I want to help build young minds." From the U.S. Military Academy on the opposite coast, Bush belabored the Democrats' "liberal elite" for failing to understand that "peace flows from strength." Welcome to the general-election...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!