Jelly Bean Psych

It's all in the wrist

Secretary of Commerce Malcolm Baldrige, 58, erstwhile Scovill Inc. executive and sometime rodeo steer roper, has given the nation a rare glimpse into the inner workings of the Reagan Cabinet. The Secretary's insights came in a stand-up monologue, "On the psychology of that jelly bean jar on the Cabinet table, " delivered at the National Press Club. Excerpts from Baldrige 's report:

"You're all familiar with the fact that President Reagan is a jelly bean addict -- and that he shares a jar of jelly beans with his Cabinet each time we meet. The jar starts in front of Dave Stockman. There, unfortunately, it also stops dead. The Budget Director is scribbling down numbers -- and putting minus signs after them. This demands his total attention. Psychological interpretation: a man whose pleasures he in long-term numbers, not in short-term gratification.

"After the jelly bean jar is stuck in front of Dave for a while, Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger usually gets impatient. He reaches in front of me to slide the jar down the table. Defense is getting the lion's share of everything this year.

"Now the jar goes to the President, who gives a virtuoso performance. If he's gesturing with his right hand, he backhands with his left and extracts a full measure of jelly beans. If his right hand is free, he makes a quick dip into the jar without looking -- and comes up with a full measure in that hand. Psychological interpretation: a very secure leader who knows exactly what he wants, and gets it."

Baldrige says Vice President George Bush always goes for the licorice beans, yet if none are available he will gobble chocolate ones instead. Thus, theorizes Baldrige, former Presidential Candidate Bush is "a man who goes all out for what he wants -- but will settle for something almost as good if he has to."

Secretary of State Alexander Haig, says Baldrige, "grasps the jar firmly with both hands, peers with great intensity into its depths and searches until he finds two red jelly beans. These he pops into his mouth -- and there is an audible crunch as he masticates them into oblivion." Concludes Baldrige: "The man just doesn't like the color red. "

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