It’s started already — race to succeed Reagan

Press, 26 November 1980, Page 25

It’s started already — race to succeed Reagan

By

ANTHONY HOLDEN,

“Observer,” London

Senator John Glenn of Ohio, once famous as the first American to orbit the earth, now as one of the Democrats to have survived the recent holocaust, has announced that he is f candidate for election to the United States presidency in 1984. Even as he spoke, a furious power-struggle over the Democratic Party chairmanship was developing be .ween forces representing the presidential aspirations of Senator Edward. Kennedy and Vice(for a few more weeds) Walter Mondale. Ba~c in the Senate, Daniel Patrick Moynihan of New York was conspiciously jockeying for position. Senator Gary

Hart of Coloarado had begun what can only be called a late run on the rails. z\nd, in a surprise development, another possible contender seemed to be ruling • himself out — though not unequivocally. His name: Jimmy Carter. The word from the Republican camp was that Vice - President - elect George Bush will be strongly challenged for the 1984 nomination by the new Senate majority leader, Howard Baker, and the party’s exultant chairman. Bill Brock. The election is over, long live the election. The President-elect Ronald Reagan had not even arrived in town, - lev alone

the White House, and already the race to succeed him was on. Before ruling out a second term for Ronald Reagan, it might perhaps be as . well to let him start his first. The nation, only too aware that it has wrought dramatic chan°e, is all anticipation: yet for the two montns of transition periods, the United States Government is an

automatic pilot, with Washington a town in suspended animation, torn between high society gossip and Capitol Hillcarping. The President-elect was fulfilling expectations by leaving the chores of change to his lieutenants. Reagan himself spent the

first week of his triumph in retreat at his remote California ranch — “Mending fences,” according to his press secretary, “and clearing trails.” Good practice, by the look of things, for what lies ahead of him in Washington.

' Squabbling among the many factions of his party is already rife, as the struggle of ascendancy begins. The vote against bussing in the Senate was an early victory for the hard-line over the moderate Republicans, and an ominous sign of -which

group may win the fight for the ’President’s ear. The southern evangelicals and the conservative “political action committees” have announced other social issues on which they will be pressing the new Adminis-

tration. Edward Kennedy’s successor as chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Strom Thurmond of South Carolina, has launched, a campaign to restore capital punishment ■ '

The first “lame duck” session for 32 years con-

vened on Capitol Hill supposedly to conclude unfinished business. Six weeks after the fiscal year began, they are still no nearer agreeing a 1981 budget (shelved by the Democrats in September for fear, ironically enough, of electoral damage).

Among those .returning from the campaign trail were more than 80 congressmen deprived of their mandate. “Here we come, the endangeerd species,” said one Democratic senator arriving at a meeting of shell-shocked colleagues. “Perhaps,” ventured another, “we could get a grant from the Wildlife Federation?”

Humbled’or not, the lingering Democratic majority

will use its twilight days in power to frustrate all Republican fiscal initiatives. All talk of cooperation on a $9BO tax cut — the incoming Administration’s most cherished priority — was scotched on Day One. Over at the White House, the “lame duck” President Carter let it be known he would have vetoed it anyway. For two more months the outgoing President will continue to conduct business as usual — there is even talk of another Middle East summit — while around town his successor’s advance party sets about dismantling his Government. No fewer than 100 Rea-

gan task forces are bur* rowing around the corridors of power, compiling hit-lists of at least 3000 Democratic appointees, selecting colleagues and friends to replace them. No-one is safe from the dread knock at the door. Those still supposedly running the country are meanwhile on the open market. Hamilton Jordan has been hired to teach politics at a Georgia University, Jody Powell will stay on in Washington, waiting to be offered a lucrative column or chat show: Stuart Eizenstat has let it be know he’s running for President — of any university willing to have him. COPYRIGHT, London Observer Service.