Adversaries Become Allies

By Hugh Sidey

It was a cameo, a gem of political theatrics last week in the Rose Garden burnished by sunshine and the lovely memory of every American's uncle, the late Democratic Senator Henry ("Scoop") Jackson. It was too tiny a melody for the tin ears of the networks. And yet, those few moments foreshadowed the very bugle call of Ronald Reagan's campaign to reclaim the Oval Office.

If Reagan has genius it was displayed in this posthumous presentation of the Medal of Freedom to Scoop. If Reagan does glide through to victory, it will be because of his singular instincts about how to play President. He melds great national principles with private ambitions; he blends what is real with what is ephemeral. Emotion becomes meaning. Politics becomes sacred policy. Adversaries become allies.

Reagan unabashedly used Scoop, but did so in a way that honored his memory, his family and his country. The President threw out his big arms and gathered everybody in--Democrat, Republican, liberal, conservative, Jew, Baptist, old, young, hawk, dove, hardhat, tycoon. And none of them could argue, only lean back and enjoy the political theater that Reagan had adroitly and effortlessly stage-managed.

Reagan stood the memory of Scoop beside him on the world's stage ("one of the great Senators in our history"), and the two of them ("Let others push each chic new belief ...") marched as defenders of "the permanent against the merely prevalent."

Swallows swooped in the bright sky. "Henry Jackson [knew] that America could not and must not attempt to float along alone, a blissful island of democracy in a sea of totalitarianism," said Reagan. Take note, voters, that the Democrats have just drafted a platform that has strong withdrawal symptoms. "And it was very much like Scoop to see that there was a growing problem in Central America," declared Reagan. Think again, you doubting souls who voted last week to end CIA help for Nicaraguan contras. "Scoop used to say, 'In matters of national security, the best politics is no politics,' " the President continued. Come on, all you partisans; get behind the Reagan foreign policy. "I am deeply proud to have Jackson Democrats serve in my Administration," Reagan said. "I am proud that some of them have found a home here." The message that came through loud and clear: Those of you Democrats listening are even more welcome on Nov. 6.

The Washington Monument stood white above the deep summer green of the trees. Reagan squinted and smiled and soothed. "Scoop believed in arms control, but he refused to support any initiative that would not ensure the survival of the West." Remember that, fellow citizens, when you hear cries from the timid to rush to the table with the Soviets. "Scoop never stopped speaking out against anti-Semitism in the Soviet Union," said Reagan. "And he was never afraid to speak out against anti-Semitism at home. Scoop Jackson just would not be bullied." Let the people contemplate the Democrats' anguish over Jesse Jackson and his supporter Louis Farrakhan, who said that "the present state called Israel is an outlaw act."

The bees buzzed among the blue petunias. The tourists gawked through the iron fence at the far end of the South Lawn. Warmth and tranquillity ruled. Reagan never shouted or scowled. With amiable demeanor and a gesture of good will, he was able to gather a varied political bouquet. Robert Strauss, former Democratic national chairman, was almost silent. House Democratic Majority Whip Tom Foley looked content. The gallant, crippled Jacob Javits, former Republican Senator from New York, wired his blessings. Judge John Sirica, who sent the Watergate offenders to jail, sat straight and proud. Rabbi Joseph Glaser caught every word. The Ambassador from China watched in fascination. Max Kampelman, who was one of Hubert Humphrey's whiz kids from Minnesota, cocked his ear for each nuance. The Senator's daughter, Anna Marie Jackson, 21, wept.