(33 of 35)
But I saw Rosalynn having in the White House an extraordinarily comprehensive series of public events and entertainment. Yet the press sometimes criticized her. If we had Horowitz, Baryshnikov, Beverly Sills and also had Willie Nelson, Rosalynn was stigmatized as some sort of rube who did not really understand the glarn-our of Washington. That aggravated me worse than anything.
We were alien in some ways. There were ways I could have reached out. It was not an antagonistic attitude. It is just not part of my personality. I do not condemn the cocktail circuit. It is just not natural for me to be part of it.
On politics. I like politics, but it is not all good. The tedium of repetitive public appearances, dashing madly from one community to another, receiving lines, receptions, begging for contributions—none of those things are attractive or enjoyable to me. Dealing with issues and making decisions, planning a campaign, the direct relation with voters—those elements of politics I enjoy.
On communicating. I am not a great speaker and am sometimes not at ease with large groups. I acknowledge those characteristics freely. They have been pointed out to me often enough to convince me. I can think on my feet. A poll of oldtime White House correspondents ranked me first in handling press conferences. It is hard to express effectively all sides of a complicated issue, and I tend to do that. It is much easier to take one simplistic side of an issue and express it clearly. Reagan does that very well. But there is no way in the long run to avoid the complexity of complex issues.
On Senator Edward Kennedy. No, I do not hate him. In many ways, he is a likeable person, but I do not think he is qualified to be President. Kennedy is a superb candidate for a nomination because people are intrigued with his looks, wealth, speaking ability and family name. But when you probe and ask people if they want him in the White House, his support tends to evaporate. My guess and hope is that the same thing will happen in 1984. People ask: Can the man be trusted to make difficult decisions under pressure with an undergirding of integrity?
In 1980, Kennedy seemed to think if he announced as a candidate I would withdraw. Later he could not accept the inevitability of his defeat even after it was mathematically impossible for him to get a majority of the delegates. Those excessive political attacks by Kennedy after he lost contributed a great deal to my loss. What his motivations were I have never understood. If he is the nominee in 1984? Well, I have never voted Republican.
On Vice President Walter Mondale. Fritz disagreed on a few economic decisions I made, eliminating some social programs I thought were a waste of money. These decisions hurt Fritz, but I never doubted that he was competent, intelligent and loyal to me. There is no doubt in my mind that he is plenty tough enough to be President. He is not naturally as combative as I am, but that is not a sign of weakness.
On Secretary of State Cyrus Vance. Cy is a good man and was a fine Secretary. I thought he