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THE ELECTION
OF
THE DECADE
by
Gene H. Hogberg
The outcome of the U.S. national elections this autumn
will
have great bearing
on the fut ure of the Western world. Europeans especially are watching.
W
ILL
incu m b ent
President Ronald
Reaga n- ri di ng
high in popular ity
polls-be returned to office?
How strong a showing will his
Democratic challenger make?
Will the relationship between
Congress and the occupant of the
White House be improved, or, as in
recent years, marked again by con–
tention and often radically different
viewpoints on key issues?
Much is at stake, not just for the
differ ing approaches to the Soviet
Union. Many believe the Western
alliance is nearing a crossroads,
demanding decisive, corrective
leadership on both sides of the
Atlantic.
Consensus t o Unpredictability
Regardless of the actual outcome
on the November 6 election date,
political analysts are now saying
that we are witnessing the end of
what is called political consensus in
American politics, particularly in
foreign policy.
Tbroughout tbe post-World War
At London Economic Summit, criticism of U.S. President Ronald Reagan, center,
was muted so as not to harm reelect ion chances.
United States, but for the enti re
Western world, especially Europe.
Relations between Washington
and the capitals of Western E urope
are strained over issues of trade and
2
11 period, little significant difference
was visible between the two major
política! parties, the Democrats and
the Republicans, in the broad range
of international relations.
Amer ican foreign policy hardly
changed when the reigns of power
were passed from Democrat Harry
S. Truman to Republican Dwight
D. Eisenhower in 1953. Even the
changeover, eight years later, to the
incoming Democrat administration
of John F. Kennedy produced few
ripples in the American perspective
in world affairs.
During this period, a president of
either party could count on major
support in Congress. Differences
were largely confined to domestic
issues, as reflected in the Kennedy
"New Frontier" program.
T he same ca nnot be said of
recent elections . Ever since the
1972 campaign a large gap has
opened between the two parties in
foreign affairs. This widening
breach in the U.S. world view
became apparent with the election
of J immy Carter in 1976.
Launching tbe country on a new
post-Vietnam course of action, M
r.
Carter claimed that the United
States had shed its " inordinate fear"
of communism. T he dominant East–
West rivalry was to be replaced by
an attempt to close the so-caBed
North-South economic gap.
Third World regions were to be
"depoliticized" in an anticipated
"new global age." Hemispheric
troubles- soon to erupt in Nicara–
gua and El Salvador-lay, said the
President , "outside the context of
the superpower relationship. "
A d ifferent signa! was picked up
The PLAIN TRUTH