A Letter from the Publisher

One of the challenges of covering a national political convention is to provide TIME'S readers with a behind-the-scenes sense of the clash of principles and the interplay of personalities that take place on and off the podium. To help with this task, TIME holds a series of on-the-record breakfasts and lunches with important figures in the convening party. Thus when the Democrats gathered in New York City last week, six of their leaders were invited to the dining rooms atop the Time & Life Building by Time Inc. Editor in Chief Henry Grunwald, TIME Managing Editor Ray Cave and Chief of Correspondents Richard Duncan. Vice President Walter Mondale was witty and articulate despite the sore throat that also made his acceptance speech sound a bit scratchy. Hamilton Jordan, deputy chairman of Carter's re-election committee, was visibly more confident, poised and worldly than at a similar lunch in the same room four years ago. Carter Re-Election Chairman Robert Strauss was a lively storyteller despite the early hour and an almost around-the-clock schedule. White House Pollster Patrick Caddell still talked revealingly about what the numbers told of Carter--good and bad. Arizona Congressman Morris

Udall was still the party peacemaker on the morning after delivering the convention's keynote speech. Rosalynn Carter was gracious but tenacious over coffee, as she defended her husband's record.

Said Washington News Editor R. Edward Jackson, who with White House Correspondent Christopher Ogden and TIME'S Katharine McNevin was responsible for setting up the meetings: "These affairs have both advantages and hazards. The guest is there long enough so that you can really develop a theme. But you have to be careful not to be too polite.

You must not let yourself be overwhelmed by the guest, who after all is trying to get across a point of view by what he or she is telling you." As Robert Strauss put it over his French toast, "I say what's on my mind, but I sometimes don't say everything that's on my mind. Sometimes I talk too much, but it's very rare that I say too much." Strauss's claim notwithstanding, the guests' remarks helped shape and illuminate this week's stories on the convention. Similar opportunities to measure up close the personalities and views of major political figures will help shape TIME'S coverage of the 1980 campaign right up to Election Day.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so viewer discretion is required.