The Battalion
V IE WPOINT
September 10,198
Slouch By Jim Earle
My collection of parking lot barricade bars. ”
Regality is returned
to the White House
i
By HELEN THOMAS
United Press International
WASHINGTON — Many of the so-called “im
perial trappings” have been restored to the
White House after a major attack on the pres
idential perks during the Carter years.
President Jimmy Carter, a populist, came
into office forswearing the goodies that came
with the turf. He carried his own garment bag
even after he became president, much to the
surprise of some of the longtime butlers.
He also sold the presidential yacht Sequoia
and eliminated chauffeured limousines intended
for top aides, except for the one used by national
security affairs adviser Zbigniew Brzezinski.
About 200 television sets were removed from
the White House offices by Hugh Carter Jr., a
relative, who ran the administrative side of the
White House with an iron hand. Carter’s frugal
ity was carried so far he even sent bills for rolls
and coffee to congressmen who came to the
White House for breakfast.
He was about to get rid of Camp David, once
known as Shangri La, in the Maryland moun
tains, but when he visited the retreat for the first
time, he rapidly changed his mind.
Hailing from the village of Plains, Ga., and
elected in a backlash atmosphere against the
ostentation and lavish use of government funds
for personal comforts by some of his predeces
sors, Carter thought austerity and simplicity
were what the people wanted.
At one point, it was decreed that the Marine
Band should play Irving Berlin’s “Always” in
stead of “Hail to the Chief.”
Instead of applauding the sacrifices, polls
showed that the public wanted more formality,
more ceremony, more royal touches to set the
president apart. In his last two years in office,
some of the perks were restored and the Marine
Band was striking up “Hail to the Chief’ for
Carter’s arrivals and departures.
Before the Carters left the White House,
longtime observers felt they had entertained as
elegantly, as hospitably and as well as any of
their recent predecessors. And Rosalynn Carter
was as impeccably groomed, with a better figure
to boot, than some of the first ladies who lived in
the White House before her.
Nevertheless, one well known columnist
heralded the election of Ronald Reagan as a
return to “class” in the White House, a remark
that deeply hurt the Carters.
With the advent of the Reagans, so far there
has been no perceptible criticism of the display
of wealth, although the splash of jewelry, mink
and sables during the inauguration caused a stir.
The president and Mrs. Reagan take the good
life in their stride and their aides, if anything,
seek to gild their surroundings with the extras.
The evidence is everywhere: Unarmed
Marine guards in full regalia man the doors of the
West Wing to welcome official visitors; and for
the first time the presidential seal has been
placed over the door.
Top White House aides also have access to
chauffeured limousines to take them to and from
work.
Fresh flowers are everywhere in the West
Wing. Their are geranium plantings flanking
the various entrances and orchid plants domi
nate the family quarters.
Although they are California western in their
manner and dress when they are in residence at
their mountaintop ranch near Santa Barbara, the
Reagans have not transferred the look to the
White House, and they do not hold barbecues
on the south lawn.
They have kept the same friends, mostly the
wealthy “kitchen cabinet” coterie, who have the
money to live part time in the East and are often
at the White House. And in many ways, except
for formal functions, the Reagans are continuing
their familiar lifestyle.
When a reporter who had been covering the
Reagans’ social outings in California and
Washington for the past eight months asked an
advance man whether they had any “poor” peo
ple, he smiled and wisecracked: “I think he
knows my name.”
>
The Battalion
USPS 045 360
MEMBER
Texas Press Association
Southwest Journalism Congress
Editor An gelique Copeland
Managing Editor . . . Marcy Boyce
City Editor Jane G. Brust
Asst. City Editor Kathy O’Connell
Photo Editor Greg Gammon
Sports Editor . . Ritchie Priddy
Focus Editor Cathy Saathoff
Asst. Focus Editor Debbie Nelson
News Editors
Jennifer Afflerbach, BernieFette, Belinda McCoy
Staff Writers
Frank L. Christlieb, Gaye Denley, Terry Duran,
Nancy Floeck, Phyllis Henderson, Colette Hutch
ings, Denise Richter,
Rick Stolle
Cartoonist Scot McCullar
Graphic Artist Richard DeLeon Jr.
Photographers Brian Tate
Becky Swanson, Dave Einsel
EDITORIAL POLICY
The Battalion is a non-profit, self-supporting newspaper
operated as a community service to Texas A&M University
and Bryan-Colloge Station. Opinions expressed in The Bat
talion are those of the editor or the author, and do not
necessarily represent the opinions of Texas A&M Universi
ty administrators or faculty members, or of the Board of
Regen ts.
The Battalion also serves as a laboratory newspaper for
students in reporting, editing and photography classes
within the Department of Communications.
Questions or comments concerning any editorial matter
should be directed to the editor.
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not subject to the same length constraints as letters.
Address all inquiries and correspondence to: Editor, The
Battalion, 216 Reed McDonald, Texas A&M University,
College Station, TX 77843.
The Battalion is published daily during Texas A&M’s fall
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periods. Mail subscriptions are $16.75 per semester, $33.25
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use for reproduction of all news dispatches credited to it.
Rights of reproduction of all other matter herein reserved.
Second class postage paid at College Station, TX 77843.
Don’t send
Editor:
I was going to send this letter to my
parents but I thought that a few Ags who
live off campus would appreciate it more:
Dear Mom and Dad,
After living out of my car for a week we
finally moved into our apartment. Our lease
began the 28th but they let us move in the
night of the 27th. It looked like the wrath of
God. Let me give you a room by room
description of the nightmare:
Living Room: wilted lettuce green car
peting accented by basketball sized stains;
lots of dirt, fingernails, and hair that wasn’t
from any of our heads; walls with nail holes
galore and in need of paint.
Kitchen: dingy floor, smashed bugs on
the wall, filthy cabinets, someone’s dirty
Aggie cups in the dishwasher, a piece of
salami behind the refrigerator (it matched
the rug). Half of the stove doesn’t work,
cabinet under sink rotted, dirty refriger
ator, air vent black as well as surrounding
wallpaper, more dirty walls. P. S. Burnt,
cracked counter tops.
Hall: recognizable as such, dirty carpet.
Bathroom: (Diane’s and Donna’s) we
couldn’t (wouldn’t) open the door, the toilet
had backed up and had had things swim
ming, floating and thriving in it for approxi
mately 3 weeks. I guess we could have
It s your turn
TAl
money, sendabrooi
TAJ
opened it if we wanted to but why destroy a
town?
Bedroom: (Diane’s and Donna’s) prob
ably the best room in the apartment, water
damage to ceiling and walls of the closet,
more foreign matter in the carpet.
Bedroom: (Becky’s and Mine) we have a
worthless weed growing in our room, it is
coming from the baseboard, we would corn-
lain but the management might charge ex
tra for home accessories. Our closet also has
water damage and a 2x4 supports one of our
shelves.
Bathroom: (Becky’s and Mine) rotten
ceiling over our shower, I’m looking for
ward to meeting our upstairs neighbors “au
naturale” when I least expect it, our tub was
dirty with a hairball in the drain, more hair
accent pieces lying in the corners, too short
to be Beck’s or mine.
Aside from the obvious everything is
fine. Please send Spray n Vac.
Love,
Cathy
We have cleaned for days. The manager
has made vague noncommittal comments as
to when help will arrive. I wonder how
many other apartment dwellers have the
same quality apartments?
Committee says than
VIE
Editor:
On July 11, Sheri Hyman, I
Texas A&M University, was crowned)
Texas for 1981. On August 7-8, a
coming was held in her honor on tli
A&M campus and in the Bryan-Col
Station Community.
MSC Hospitality organized
coming with the overwhelming suppe
the campus and the community. Wen
like to publicly express our thanks I
businesses, organizations, and indiv
who were so generous in contributing
their time and resources. Their ti JAN
Cathy Smith
401 Anderson, CS
made it possible to include some ven
events during the Homecoming in«
Sheri was presented with many $
appreciation. Also, through their el
Sheri’s family will be able to travel toil
tic City, at no cost, to watch Sheri
for the title of Miss America.
On behalf of the University, Sheii
her family, thank you so very mucli!
MSC Hospitality Coming NA'l
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Put bumper stickers
on postmen
I Berg
she woi
By DICK WEST
United Press International
WASHINGTON — The Postal Service, via the
Federal Register, has invited public comment
on a proposal to sell advertising space on stamp
books, delivery trucks and other mail facilities.
Very well. Here goes. My comment is: Why
limit this form of revenue-raising to the Postal
Service?
Many other governmental agencies are just as
financially strapped as the Postal Service. In
fact, the entire federal establishment is operat
ing at a deficit. So why not sell advertising space
to help reduce the national debt?
One selling opportunity is suggested by the
planes that fly along ocean resort beaches pulling
streamers that tout suntan lotions and cures for
skin fungi.
Why not attach similar streamers to the tow
lines trailing from military planes that pull
targets for aerial gunnery practice? That type of
exposure should bring in a pretty penny at stan
dard commercial rates.
Right now there is talk of cutting defense
spending by about $30 billion to enable Presi
dent Reagan to balance the budget in fiscal 1984.
Not building new ships, planes, tanks and
missiles seems a rather drastic way to economize
compared to the alternative proposed by the
Postal Service.
No doubt big defense contractors would pay
handsomely to have their corporate names and
trademarks displayed on the weapons they
build. But I’m not sure this would accomplish
anything.
Defense contractors have a way of lumping
advertising expenses into the production costs
for which they bill the government. Thus Uncle
Sam would, in effect, wind up paying for adver
tising space it sold.
A more fiscally prudent method might be for
the Army, Navy and Air Force to sell space on
their ships, planes, tanks and missiles for civilian
advertising.
Take, for example, the B-l bomber project
that President Carter dropped to saveW*
For awhile it appeared Reagan wouldrevi«
part of his military buildup. But lately tlierf
been reports the resuscitation might be®
for budgetary reasons.
I say go ahead and build the B-l,
space on its wing, tail and fuselage for beet
drink and cigarette ads.
There might be some complaining tM
bombers fly too high for their commercials
sages to be seen from the ground, which is ^
the great mass of beer, soft drink and cig**
consumers live. The Air Force could easily^
come that type of niggling, however,
For one thing, it could guaranteethala!-
would break the sound barrier over urta
ters every half-hour, thereby callingattea®
themselves.
The revenue could make it possible for 1
have the B-l and a balanced budget, too ]
there might even be enough left overtop
part of the cost of the MX missile system
l
Warped
By Scott McCullat
I AN NOT ACCIDENT PRONE,
ANYBODY CAN BURN, BRUISE
AND SMASH THEIR FINGER
ALL IN ONE DAT...
AND THAT'S THE SILLIEST
CONCEPT I'VE EVER HEARD,
THERE'S NOTHING UNKING
CLUMSINESS WITH LOW
iNTELu g... ouch !