opinion
BattaH
January J
Slouch
By Jim Earle
by Maxwell Glen
and Cody Shearer
Announced resignations by Secretar
ies Drew Lewis and Richard Schweiker
might give the impression that every
body’s jumping ship at the White House.
For the most part, however, those who
followed Ronald Reagan into the White
House and its connected agencies are
staying put. Their reasons make for an
illuminating commentary on the admi
nistration.
Traditionally, mid-term elections
have provided political appointees at all
levels with an opportunity to move on
while the getting is good (with at least two
more years of an administration, special
interests are always in the market for in
side contacts). Vacancies, in turn, give the
White House a chance to reward suppor
ters who weren’t so lucky the First go-
round.
As a rule, adds Joe Laitin, a former
press aide to Democrats and Republicans
alike and one of Washington’s quintes
sential insiders, Republicans tend to cut
short their government service more
than Democrats.
Recent departures would seem to con
firm the latter truism. Joining a list that
includes Alexander Haig, Lyn Nofziger,
James Edwards, Richard Allen and Mur
ray Weidenbaum are Lewis, who’s
headed for Warner Communications’
cable television subsidiary; Schweiker,
for an insurance company; National
Security Council Kremlinologist Richard
Pipes, for a new semester at Harvard;
and Jay Moorhead, the private sector in
itiatives coordinator, for the Olympic
Organizing Committee.
Meanwhile, at least five others have
decided to jump George Bush’s ship for
good. They include the vice president’s
personal secretary, deputy general coun
sel, official photographer and assistants
for domestic and legislative affairs. (Pe
ter I eeley, Bush’s press secretary, also
plans to leave soon on a six-month sabba
tical.)
Yet, overall figures make these depar
tures the exception. According to John F.
W. Rogers, Reagan’s deputy assistant for
administration, only five staff members
left the White House during the last four
months of 1982. (There are 322 perma
nent staff positions authorized for the
White House, excluding OMB and the
vice president’s office.) “People are gen
erally staying in their jobs, and they’re
doing so at the White House,” Rogers
contended.
T he Office of Presidential Personnel,
which oversees almost 4,000 political
appointments to Cabinet departments
and agencies, confirms that the vacancy
rate at mid-term is lower than in the past.
In fact, Schweiker’s selected replace
ment, former representative Margaret
Heckler of Massachusetts, is rather
lucky: There don’t seem to be enough
openings even for those Reagan allies
who were defeated in last November’s
congressional elections.
One could have a field day speculating
about the political import of this inertia.
Aside from Lewis and other opportun
ists, many of those who’ve already left
have done so for ideological reasons
(libertarian Martin Anderson, the for
mer domestic policy adviser, and former
Treasury under secretary Norman Ture,
a committed monetarist, are two exam
ples). What, remains could be the mak
ings of a more pragmatic staff committed
to the long haul.
Meanwhile, George Bush’s staff defec
tions may reflect internal doubts that the
veep will get the OOP’s presidential
nomination whether Reagan runs or not.
The vice president’s decision to replace
several highly-regarded defectors with
less-stellar loyalists could mean that Bush
is satisfied with the way things are.
For the moment, however, low staff
turnover may indicate an internal pes
simism about private-sector opportuni
ties. “The jobs aren’t very good out there
right now,” said one senior administra
tion official sardonically. Added Doug
Bandow, the former Martin Anderson
aide who now edits Inquiry magazine,
even special presidential assistants who
would prefer the outside fear that the
private sector wouldn’t reward them with
comparable salary or status.
The Battalion
USPS 045 360
Member ol
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Managing Editor Gary Barker
Associate Editor Denise Richter
City Editor Hope E. Paasch
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Garcia, Rob Johnston, Irene Mees
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Any jobs for sale today? jp
“Rather than using your judging system, I had rather
have you simply hold your hand up when a point needs to
be clarified.
Reaganomics arrives
at the White House
by Art Buchwald
The Five-cent surcharge on gasoline is
supposed to be used to repair bridges
and roads and provide 360,000 jobs. I
imagine the states are starting to hire
peojde to do the work right now. The
trouble, as I see it, is how will they select
which ones to do the repairs?
, They probably won’t have any trouble
finding qualiFied people from the con
struction Fields, but does this mean the
white-collar unemployed can’t have a
crack at the jobs? They need the money
as badly as the blue-collar worker.
“You’d like to work?”
“Yes sir.”
“What did you formerly do?”
“Vice President of an advertising
agency.”
“Then I don’t imagine you know much
about bridges.”
“That was my specialty — building-
bridges between the advertiser and the
consumer.”
“I’m not talking about that kind of
bridge. I’m talking about one that spans a
body of water.”
“I\m sure I can do it. Would you like to
hear me sing ‘Bridge Over Troubled Wa
ters’?”
“Do you know anything about piling?”
“What advertising man doesn’t know
something about jailing?
“You may have to climb spans.’
“You got the right guy. In the ad busi
ness, I was known for my upward mo
bility.”
“You don’t seem to have many cal
louses on your hands.
“That’s because I had the ‘Flighto’
account for the R&f Soap Company.
Your hands were always, smooth as a
baby’s skin. Look man, I need this job.
“There are thousands of people lined
up for employment. We only want skilled
workers who are knowledgeable about
bridges.”
“I thought Bonzo wanted everyone to
go back to work.”
“I wish you wouldn’t talk that way ab
out the President. If he hadn’t signed the
gas tax bill you wouldn’t be here today
applying for work. I’m interested in get
ting some. I know I’m overqualified, but
I’m willing to take anything to get off
unemployment.”
“Perhaps you ought to try for road
work. I understand they’re taking on col
lege graduates as laborers. Go and sjDeak
to the man at the other counter.”
“Hi there. The man in
bridges told me you were®
people to repair the state hiS, by Kelle
“Have you ever run a buisi Battalion
“No, but 1 know what a Dol^ dent ,
like.” • Jonsor a vot
"May I ask you how ^eg^'
na 't » a /- ge Station elec
Just a B.A. from Dartmoj 6 Registration '
“I’m sorry we’re only hirintojat the Me
fill potholes.” ’Irttier, the
“What about spreadinglar. gency Buildin
of education do you need for and at j' ie
“A master’s in engineering and Na £ e
rate in geology.” H &0 „ W il be h
«\/ 6 87 II ffiS Monday th
You guys are really go,t;! Student Govt
heavies to repair your roads.', nta uves will an
jntatives will an
wny notr we may neverha
like this again.” uAuiumi.^w —
“So you have nothing for aiming city elect
Vice President of an advertisinjThe goal of tf
"1 have one job open, buL l0re stadents i
breaker. You have to feed un i y ’ ,
nuxer with a shovel every ten|ft e are the
I ll take it. 1 m not proud.'i !Commun ity,
"I in sorry I can’t give it to | e do not feel wt
Why not r ie said.
“We’ve taken on our quoial Voters who
ployed men, and I have to holdile drive will nc
tion open for a woman.” ]lf:' n lde
on for the 6th
istrict represe.
IF RUSSIA WAS BEHIND
THE POPES ATTACK,
toWQOt)”:
Pavi
jioM
Letters: Lobbying, not ‘buying’
Editor:
In reference to your editorial today, I
feel you have left the impression all bills
passed by the Legislature have been
“bought and paid for” by special interest
groups otherwise known as the Lobby.
It is true these special interest groups
do play a role in influencing legislation.
However, this influence should not be
interpreted as “buying a legislator.” As a
former aide to a State Representative, I
dealt with these groups daily. They
ranged from experts on very technical
issues to concerned citizens fighting fora
cause. Each was as important as the
other. Many were people giving their
time to help preserve the future —yours
and mine — whether it be disj^osal of
nuclear waste or the curriculum taught in
our public schools.
For instance, the Senior Citizen Lobby
was very active in advising and testifying
in behalf of a badly needed Statewide
Crime Victims Law. With their help it
passed. Parents Against Drug Abuse
fought to toughen Texas Drug Laws —
they passed. These are only two out of
many which come to mind. Special in
terest groups such as these do not always
receive the jrmblic recognition they de
serve.
I his is not to say all special interest
groups favor good legislation. This is
why it is important to vote — for we too
are a special interest group. Equally im
portant as voting is letting the legislature
know how we feel about issues. Before a
member can represent his or her district
they must first hear from them.
Peggy Seale ’84
Main Drive mess
Editor:
To whomever it may concern,
Thanks for creating the death-trap on
Main Drive at the east entrance of cam
pus. for those of us who ride bicycles to
of M PUS n he Park , mg “ lot ” on either side
o Mam Dt ive makes for a very, very dan
gerous situation. Not only is it daneer-
but. lt: ’ s u g!y and degrades Texas
A&M s high standards.
I really don’t think that the few cars
Berrys World
by Bonn
Battalion
The Texas
inancial Aid C
cations next
hire! floor of tl
ng to the sect
lew registratio
lavilion.
: DDuring the
vill to remain c:
ng, but not all
ivailable duri
vlalon Souther!
jtor of final
Tuesday.
, Students
financial aid cl
ne said. The ol
ppen to assist
needing imme
Southerland sa:
jihould be vacat
ay. By the lina
Mill be relocate
dor of the i
enter, he said.
SI all facets
.should be oper
faces.
The main en
offices will be t
registration cer
Agriculture Bu
J f the stairs wi
on desk.
Southerland
reason for the i
the lack of wor
land said. The
the same local
same amount o
was dealing v
students, he sa
that can be parked there willro- move (
much of a dent in the parking P r :'j)ut off a few m
the University. So whoeverisinTdand said,bu
parking, please, let’s use some|#such a prem
and eliminate a potential wreck % i campus
death. iv
Tyson M Br4
±2Mail
© 1983 by NEA, Inc.
the otmoJats^n 0 ^,-° Ube an ° ther ^