No Longer a Flawed Institution

By Hugh Sidey

At the start of 1986, in the 197th year of its existence, the American presidency is a political supernova. Rarely, if ever, has the office attracted so much attention in the nation and the world.

White House mail last year increased an astonishing 30%, to 8 million pieces, much of it from children who were somehow inspired--or prodded by teachers--to ask about the Oval Office and its occupant.

College courses on the presidency and the number of students who attend them have grown dramatically. The University of Virginia's White Burkett Miller Center of Public Affairs, which is oriented toward the presidency, started its scholarly presentations seven years ago with audiences of just under 30 participants and now draws up to 80. The center is making plans to build a small auditorium for the forums.

Harvard's Roger Porter, wearily grading papers through Christmas night with a flickering TV screen to keep him company, decided about 4 a.m. that the electronic symbol of American power and Government was the White House. Not so long ago, it was the Capitol. Indeed, the Soviets, usually a few years behind the times, still use the Capitol as the American symbol on their TV, which may be a clue as to why they have trouble with Ronald Reagan.

Michael Robinson, George Washington University's media scholar, sees a "presidential focus" developing in the mass media. He notes that Franklin Roosevelt was not even quoted at first in some major papers when Germany invaded France in the spring of 1940. "Today," says Robinson, "a White House response is the first sought on anything important. It's changing our political culture."

It is more than just TV, claims the President's pollster Richard Wirthlin. "Reagan made a difference in people's lives," says Wirthlin, whose latest polls show Reagan with 70% approval, 14 points higher than Ike at the same time in his presidency. Wirthlin's study of overseas opinion shows the same enhancement.

The American Enterprise Institute's Austin Ranney sees heightened interest in the presidency by scholars, journalists and politicians because "it became apparent that it was not inevitable every President was going to be a failed President." Not so long ago academics had suggested the institution was flawed.

Sales of this year's White House Christmas tree ornament--profiles of James and Dolley Madison--by the White House Historical Association set a new record, 26,500 at $9.75 a bauble. Sheila Tate, who used to be Nancy Reagan's press secretary, was told that during the second term interest in the First Family would begin to decline. "It never happened," she said. Bill Henkel, the White House advance director for three Presidents who in other years used to have to work hard to get crowds, now just has to let people know where Reagan will be and there is instant enthusiasm. Requests for presidential appearances are running at a staggering 100 to 200 a day, and the Reagan schedulers are braced for more pleas.

Curator Clem Conger, who has lovingly guided the White House to new levels of grace and beauty, says the mansion never looked better, nor has there ever been so much interest in its history. There will soon be two new volumes on just that subject, part of the flood tide of material on the presidency.

The Post Office, which in May will issue new 22-c- stamps of all 35 deceased Presidents, is already besieged by eager stamp collectors and expects the public to set up a clamor soon.

There are some holdouts in this presidential mania. Robert Hahn, assigned to do the Christmas bird count at the White House, could identify only ten species in an hour and a half, down from the usual range of twelve to 15. He wryly noted, however, that this time the yellow-bellied sapsucker was back.