Dear Mr. President: As you know, each year the deans of the College of Political Punditry issue their annual report card to the enrollee in the White House master class. Here is your copy.
Subject: Working With Others (30 percent). Grades reflect your ability to get things done in the legislative arena.Comment: Our congratulations. You've achieved a fine success rate of 86.4 percent. Your score has been bested by only two other presidents in their first year in office since Congressional Quarterly began counting in 1953: Dwight Eisenhower (89 percent) and Lyndon Johnson (88 percent). In particular, the deans note the deft way you handled the August budget package and the North American trade deal.
Freshman grade: A.
Subject: Personnel Practices (20 percent). Occupant must hire some 600 top managers. They, in turn, will direct the work of 2 million or so federal bureaucrats. Many choices are subject to Senate scrutiny. Extra credit is available for fielding a diverse team.
Comment: After a somewhat halting start at Justice and in the national security arena, most of your nominees seem to be taking hold. In particular, the deans approve of your choice of Ruth Bader Ginsburg at the Supreme Court. On the diversity front, one of three high-level jobs in the White House and big federal departments is held by a female, a 50 percent rise over the prior record, set by George Bush. More than one in five of these slots have gone to an African American, Hispanic, Asian American or American Indian - an outstanding record.
Freshman grade: B+.
Subject: Crisis Management (25 percent). You are judged on your adroitness in avoiding national disasters and on your finesse in coping with them when they can't be avoided.
Comment: You've had to ramp up in a hurry on Russia, Bosnia, North Korea, Haiti and Somalia. However, without an overall coherent strategy, the deans feel that any one of these situations, and some others that are perking along, will test you in 1994.
Freshman grade: Incomplete.
Subject: Preacher-in-Chief (20 percent). You are judged on your skill in using the presidential bully pulpit to shape public attitudes.
Comment: Your tough talk on the need for more familial commitment to easing poverty and fighting crime struck a vital chord. Still, charges of pre-Washington sexual and financial hanky-panky have left you badly shaken. We urge you take an extra remedial course on how to avoid hypocrisy.
Freshman grade: C-.
Subject: Student-Faculty Relations (5 percent). Your grade reflects your ability to sway the deans who, in turn, arrogantly hold that they can make or break your presidential career.
Comment: Getting your picture taken with the junior teaching aides at your Christmas bash proved a nice touch. But your private diatribes against the press are well-known to the senior deans. Improvement needed.
Freshman grade: D.
You are hereby promoted to the sophomore class under the deans' doleful eye but, nevertheless, with their best wishes.