The Clothes Have No Emperor Part 11

Was.h.i.+ngton Post: MERIT BOARD CHIEF SAID TO HELP FRIEND OF MEESE GET JOB 6/6/84.

"I will be the nominee of the Democratic Party."

--Walter Mondale, who has been described by an adviser as someone who "dares to be cautious," having ama.s.sed the 1,967 delegates he needs following the conclusion of the primary season 6/6/84.

GOP Iowa senator Roger Jepsen a staunch member of the Christian right acknowledges members.h.i.+p in a private spa that was later shut down as a house of prost.i.tution. Claiming he thought it was a health club, he says he only went once, realized his error and never returned. Though the 1977 incident occurred before his "commitment to Christ," he loses his re-election bid.

6/6/84.

In the PR coup of Michael Deaver's career, President Reagan commemorates the 40th anniversary of D-Day on the site of the Normandy invasion as campaign cameras roll. "These are the boys of Pointe du Hoc," he says of the veterans sitting before him. "These are the men who took the cliffs. These are the champions who helped free a continent. These are the heroes who helped end a war." As he leaves, a veteran shouts out, "Welcome aboard, Ronnie. You're 40 years late."

6/10/84.

President Reagan complains about daughter Patti's liberal comments about marijuana usage and pre-marital cohabitation. "I'm just sorry that spanking is out of fas.h.i.+on now," he says, though it is unclear when spanking a child in her 30s was in fas.h.i.+on.

6/12/84.

Discussing US-Soviet relations with GOP leaders, President Reagan announces, "If they want to keep their Mickey Mouse system, that's okay." Says an official, "It's a change in his view. It's not an evil empire. It's a Mickey Mouse system."

6/12/84.

Sharon Porto, a witness at the Marvin Pancoast murder trial, testifies that Vicki Morgan had been planning to write a book in which she would "name a lot of government people" she had been involved with. Says Porto, "Meese was one name I heard."

6/13/84.

Close Meese pal Herbert Ellingwood is reported to have created a "talent bank" to place fundamentalist Christians in civil service and political positions.

6/14/84.

At his 25th press conference, President Reagan claims that his tax policies which have produced a windfall for the wealthy "have been more beneficial" to the poor "than to anyone else." Though this would seem to be a difficult claim to get away with, no one challenges him.

6/18/84.

Born In The U.S.A. begins an 84-week run in the begins an 84-week run in the Billboard Billboard Top Ten, turning Bruce Springsteen whose populist songs about hard times are perversely misinterpreted by many fans as celebrations of Reaganism into America's pre-eminent rock star, with even as unlikely a fawner as bow-tied conservative columnist George Will gus.h.i.+ng about him in print. Top Ten, turning Bruce Springsteen whose populist songs about hard times are perversely misinterpreted by many fans as celebrations of Reaganism into America's pre-eminent rock star, with even as unlikely a fawner as bow-tied conservative columnist George Will gus.h.i.+ng about him in print.

6/24/84.

Louis Farrakhan attacks Judaism as a "gutter religion," though he insists he said no such thing. A media consensus forms that he actually might have called it a "dirty" religion, and this, for some reason, is perceived as not having been so bad. Even Jesse Jackson is forced to denounce these latest remarks as "reprehensible and morally indefensible."

6/27/84.

"Your policies are not in the least anti-black or anti- poor. As a matter of fact, it's my opinion that your fight against inflation, your war on the drug traffic, your tough stand against street crime, your effort in revitalizing the nation's economy, are all of great importance to us poor people and us black people in America."

--Letter allegedly received by President Reagan from a 39-year-old black man whose ident.i.ty, as is so often the case with these epistles of unsolicited support, goes unrevealed 6/30/84.

GOP chairman Frank Fahrenkopf suggests the addition of President Reagan's likeness to Mount Rushmore, saying he "can't think of any President more deserving" of joining the ranks of Was.h.i.+ngton, Jefferson, Lincoln and Teddy Roosevelt.

JULY 1984.

7/2/84.

President Reagan appoints scandal-tainted Anne Burford as chairman of the National Advisory Committee on Oceans and Atmosphere, declaring himself "very pleased to have her back in the Administration."

7/6/84.

Nancy Reagan, 63, celebrates her 61st birthday.

7/8/84.

Gay British rock star Boy George and Rev. Jerry Falwell appear on Face the Nation Face the Nation to discuss androgyny. to discuss androgyny.

7/10/84.

President Reagan claims that his environmental record is "one of the best kept secrets" of his presidency. When a reporter asks where Anne Burford fits into that record, Larry Speakes steps forward and orders the lights turned off. Reagan, believed by many to be the most powerful man on the planet, stands behind his aide, saying, "My guardian says I can't talk."

7/12/84.

At the Minnesota statehouse, Walter Mondale introduces Rep. Geraldine Ferraro, who represents the "Archie Bunker" district in Queens, as his running mate. "This is an exciting choice," he says, surprised by the intensity of the applause. "Let me say that again. This is an exciting choice!"

Ferraro kicks off her campaign the next day by attacking President Reagan's false piety. "The President walks around calling himself a good Christian," she says. "I don't for one minute believe it, because the policies are so terribly unfair."

7/14/84.

The Mondale momentum screeches to a halt as the candidate names Georgian Bert Lance, the most scandal-tainted figure from the despised Carter administration, as the new party chairman. As William Winpisinger, president of the Machinists union, puts it, every last bit of "garbage" had been cleaned out of the Democrats' yard when Mondale showed up and "dropped a load of manure on the front doorstep."

7/15/84.

Walter Mondale says he will retain current party chairman Charles Manatt. Instead of dropping Bert Lance completely, he names him to head his campaign, guaranteeing two more weeks of "When Is Lance Leaving?" stories.

7/16/84.

New York governor Mario Cuomo gets the Democratic convention underway in San Francisco with a keynote speech stunning for its eloquence and sense of outrage. "There is despair, Mr. President," he says, "in the faces that you don't see, in the places that you don't visit in your s.h.i.+ning city." He warns about what Reagan's re-election will mean: "If July brings back Anne Gorsuch Burford, what can we expect of December?" He focuses squarely on the Supreme Court a key issue that Democrats are usually too wimpy to push urging his audience to contemplate a judiciary "fas.h.i.+oned by the man who believes in having government mandate people's religion and morality. The man who believes that trees pollute the environment, the man that believes that the laws against discrimination against people go too far ..." By the time he gets to the part about watching his immigrant father's feet bleed, most of his audience is wondering why Mondale is the candidate.

7/18/84.

In San Diego, James Oliver Huberty straps an a.r.s.enal to his body, tells his wife, "I'm going to hunt humans," and strolls down the block to the local McDonald's where, while his radio blares out Scandal's "The Warrior" "Shootin' at the walls of heartache / Bang bang / I am the warrior" he kills 21 people and wounds 19 (then a record body count for one man in one day) before being slain by police.

Hours later, Walter Mondale is nominated for president a story forced to share the next day's front pages with the gruesome ma.s.s murder.

7/19/84.

"Mr. Reagan will raise taxes, and so will I. He won't tell you. I just did."

--Walter Mondale accepting the nomination, exhibiting an honesty he will not be rewarded for 7/20/84.

Vanessa Williams, the first black Miss America, is ordered to relinquish her t.i.tle after Penthouse Penthouse publishes old nude photos of her in s.e.xually explicit poses with another woman. Publisher Bob Guccione declares himself "a little bit tired of being the heavy in this instance. I didn't take her clothes off. She did." publishes old nude photos of her in s.e.xually explicit poses with another woman. Publisher Bob Guccione declares himself "a little bit tired of being the heavy in this instance. I didn't take her clothes off. She did."

7/21/84.

In Vermont, James Fixx author of The Complete Book of Running The Complete Book of Running and a tireless proponent of the theory that this exercise increases life expectancy dies at 52 of a heart attack while jogging. and a tireless proponent of the theory that this exercise increases life expectancy dies at 52 of a heart attack while jogging.

7/21/84.

Walter Mondale takes advantage of his convention momentum by going fis.h.i.+ng for five days.

7/24/84.

At his 26th press conference, President Reagan claims that "not one single fact or figure" backs up Democratic "demagoguery" that his budget cuts have hurt the poor. The next morning, a congressional study reports that cuts in welfare have pushed more than 500,000 people the majority of them children into poverty.

7/25/84.

"The national Democratic leaders.h.i.+p is going so far left, they've left America."

--President Reagan campaigning in Austin 7/26/84.

The Federal Communications Commission raises the number of TV stations one company can own from seven to 12. "Bigness isn't necessarily badness," says chairman Mark Fowler. "Sometimes it is goodness."

7/26/84.

Flying to a rally in New Jersey, President Reagan declines Sam Donaldson's joking invitation to view the Penthouse Penthouse spread of Vanessa Williams. "I don't look at those kind of pictures," says the President. "I'm a good boy." spread of Vanessa Williams. "I don't look at those kind of pictures," says the President. "I'm a good boy."

7/27/84.

Anne Burford dismisses the job she has been appointed to as insignificant. "It's a nothing-burger," she says. "They meet three times a year. They don't do anything. It's a joke." Having so blurted, she has no choice but to have her nomination withdrawn.

7/28/84.

"Set your sights high, and then go for it. For yourselves, for your families, for your country and will you forgive me if I just be a little presumptuous do it for the Gipper."

--President Reagan delivering a pep talk to US Olympic athletes who go on to dominate the Los Angeles games, to the delight of jingoistic commentators 7/30/84.

Prince's Purple Rain Purple Rain which, unbeknownst to many parents, contains a song with lyrics about masturbation begins a 24-week reign as the nation's best-selling alb.u.m. which, unbeknownst to many parents, contains a song with lyrics about masturbation begins a 24-week reign as the nation's best-selling alb.u.m.

7/31/84.

Asked whether he believes President Reagan is a "good Christian," Mario Cuomo says, "I don't think we ought to judge one another's soul. I'm not going to judge Ronald Reagan and ask, 'Why did you leave your first wife? Was that a Christian thing to do? Have you seen your grandchild?' I don't want to judge his soul or his conscience ... I'm not going to debate Ronald Reagan on whether he's a hypocrite." As to whether Bert Lance should leave the Mondale campaign, Cuomo says, "It won't make any difference. He's a walnut in the batter of eternity."

AUGUST 1984.

8/1/84.

Stymied by a reporter's question about arms control during a Santa Barbara photo op, President Reagan stands silently for several seconds, grunting and shrugging, until Nancy, beside him, lowers her head and mutters, "Doing everything we can." Says the leader of the free world, instantly, "We're doing everything we can."

8/2/84.

Bert Lance submits his inevitable resignation as general chairman of the Mondale campaign.

8/3/84.

The Census Bureau reports that 35.3 million Americans were living in poverty in 1983 an 18-year-high rate of 15.2% of the population.

8/5/84.

Reviewing the Nancy-feeds-Ronnie-his-line incident, New York Times New York Times reporter Francis X. Clines writes of the vacationing President, "Subjects such as the Soviet Union seem to haunt Mr. Reagan the way vows to read Proust dog other Americans at leisure." reporter Francis X. Clines writes of the vacationing President, "Subjects such as the Soviet Union seem to haunt Mr. Reagan the way vows to read Proust dog other Americans at leisure."

Notes Village Voice Village Voice press critic Geoffrey Stokes, "This may be the only time in history in which the words 'Mr. Reagan' and 'read Proust' will appear in the same sentence." Humorist Veronica Geng promptly writes a brilliant press critic Geoffrey Stokes, "This may be the only time in history in which the words 'Mr. Reagan' and 'read Proust' will appear in the same sentence." Humorist Veronica Geng promptly writes a brilliant New Yorker New Yorker piece in which those words appear together in piece in which those words appear together in every every sentence. sentence.

8/8/84.

Vice President Bush denies that he and President Reagan have been having difficulty coordinating their positions on a tax increase. "Absolutely not," he says. "There's no difference between me and the president on taxes. No more nit-picking. 'Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah.' Now it's off to the races."

8/9/84.

On the 10th anniversary of Richard M. Nixon's resignation, former Nixon speech writer Benjamin Stein writes a Was.h.i.+ngton Post Was.h.i.+ngton Post op-ed column called "Was Watergate Really Such A Big Deal?" Stein thinks not. "Really, who now knows what Watergate was about? What was all the shouting about?" he writes. "If whatever Nixon did was so obscure that no one can even remember what he did any longer ... how drastic could it have been? ... If the nation chased a President out of office for the only time in 200 years op-ed column called "Was Watergate Really Such A Big Deal?" Stein thinks not. "Really, who now knows what Watergate was about? What was all the shouting about?" he writes. "If whatever Nixon did was so obscure that no one can even remember what he did any longer ... how drastic could it have been? ... If the nation chased a President out of office for the only time in 200 years and no one clearly remembers why and no one clearly remembers why, something went drastically wrong ..." Writes the Post Post in an editorial, "Not to put too fine a point on it, we think we can remember." in an editorial, "Not to put too fine a point on it, we think we can remember."

8/11/84.

President Reagan again indulges his penchant for whimsy during a sound check. "My fellow Americans," he jests, "I'm pleased to tell you today that I've signed legislation that will outlaw Russia forever. We begin bombing in five minutes." Though he gets his expected big laugh from the sycophants in the room, others are less amused.

8/12/84.

With questions about her financial disclosures dominating coverage of her campaign, Geraldine Ferraro says she'll release her income tax returns but has been unable to convince her husband John, a New York real estate developer, to release his. "You people married to Italian men," she says, "you know what it's like."

8/13/84.

Michael Deaver reveals to NBC's Chris Wallace that President Reagan nods off in Cabinet meetings. "I've seen him when he had difficulty staying awake," says Deaver, "but he wasn't the only one in the room that was."

8/14/84.

Patti Davis, 31, marries her yoga instructor Paul Grilley, 25, in a private ceremony at the Bel-Air Hotel in Los Angeles. Her parents actually attend the wedding.

8/16/84.

"I was really talking low. I must have been on his good side or he had that gizmo turned up, or whatever. But I wasn't prompting him. I was talking to myself out of sheer frustration."

--Nancy Reagan denying that she fed her husband his line at the ranch, though it's clear from the tape that she did just that 8/17/84.

"She was talking to herself ... She didn't even know I could hear. I guess I had the b.u.t.ton turned up."

--President Reagan, annoyed at reports that his wife "is the power behind the throne, directing me or something"

8/19/84.

Geraldine Ferraro explains that her husband John who has released his taxes after all "did nothing wrong" by borrowing $100,000 from the funds of an incapacitated woman whose estate he was overseeing because he "never knew it was improper."

8/19/84.

Asked to respond to Mondale's charge that his bombing joke had made the world uneasy, President Reagan blames the media. "Isn't it funny?" he says. "If the press had kept their mouth shut, no one would have known I said it." No one points out that if he'd he'd kept his mouth shut, they couldn't have reported it. kept his mouth shut, they couldn't have reported it.