by John M. Curtis
(310) 204-8700

Copyright January 29, 2000
All Rights Reserved.

lenching his jaw and flexing his maseters, an intense president Clinton returned to the very chamber in which his impeachment was debated a little more than a year ago. Delivering his final State of the Union address to a conspicuously partisan joint session of congress, Clinton hit the audience with his best shots—a virtual howitzer of far-flung, utopian proposals, hoping to secure his place in history. "Let him promise everything to the world—it’s not something I take too seriously," said Rep. John Kasich (Rep-Ohio). Weighing in on Clinton’s speech, Republican front-runner George W. Bush remarked, "The litany of spending programs the president announced tonight proves my point that if you leave a large surplus in Washington, the money will be spent on big government." But Clinton’s real problem stems less from off-base proposals or bitter partisanship than lingering doubts about his credibility and moral authority.

       With the impeachment hearings and Lewinsky sex scandal still on peoples’ minds, lecturing the congress about their complacency and inaction went over like a lead balloon. "You can’t gain ground if you’re standing still," said president Clinton, "For too long, this congress has been standing still on some of our most pressing national priorities." Blaming Republicans for the current gridlock, Clinton wasn’t winning friends and influencing Republicans. While partisanship seems par for the course, today’s acrimony and divisiveness stems directly from profound disappointments over Clinton’s personal behavior. But, even more to the point, the way in which he handled his mistakes, that is, his 'damage control.' Without offering a true mea culpa, Clinton placed his presidential legacy into jeopardy. Forgiveness and compassion were well within his reach. They begin with sincere apologies and making amends—not spinning like a gyroscope.

       Brilliant speech making starts with having a receptive audience. Reminiscent of last year’s scandal-plagued State of the Union message, Clinton’s most recent speech was jam-packed with distracting proposals, detouring far away from any mention or atonement for his past indiscretions. A simple, pedestrian apology would have gone along way in mending fences and advancing his agenda during his final year. Even the outcome of the vaunted Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty might have been different had president Clinton fessed up and said he was sorry. Admissions—partial or complete—sometimes cross a dangerous line between pushing beyond a crisis or creating a new one. In another 12 months we'll know whether Clinton’s reticence paid off, as prosecutors weigh their options.

       For those who patiently waited [for contrition], they were sadly disappointed but not surprised. How can anyone really expect to be inspired by someone who blew so much smoke—and got caught red-handed? That’s Clinton’s real problem. Not that his proposals are so wild, off-base or unrealistic—far-flung and a bit grandiose, yes. Few can deny that. As with last year’s performance, this year’s version conveyed more chest pounding than humility and gratitude. "Next month, America will achieve the longest economic expansion in our entire history," boasted Clinton, despite recent developments suggesting that the nation’s unstoppable economy is badly overheating. Wall Street knows what that means—and the stock market doesn’t like the medicine.

       With Greenspan’s new inflation index—the GDP deflator—Wall Street’s mighty money machine might be cascading toward the falls. With vice president and presidential hopeful Al Gore praying that the economy doesn’t head south, ominous cracks are beginning to appear. Far from the economy, Clinton’s biggest enemy continues to be himself. Neither bull markets nor Teflon last forever. No matter how much time was wasted defending the Clinton presidency, bombarding congress now with an avalanche of belated proposals doesn’t make up for lost time. "If we enacted all of the new programs the president has talked about, we’d spend just about the entire surplus on bigger and more expensive government," said House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill). Should the Federal Reserve continue to hike interest rates, all bets are off about the unending bull market and future budget surpluses.

       Dismissing his conduct as commonplace or inconsequential doesn’t erase the fact that many people—in and out of government—were disgusted by his personal conduct. Few Democrats embraced Ronald Reagan’s social and fiscal policies, but most admired his high regard and dignity while serving in the Oval Office. When Reagan lectured congress about their extravagance, it was all done with mutual respect and good cheer. Clinton no longer enjoys that same luxury because his personal mistakes eclipse his authority to pass judgment. Leaders lose their ability to command once their own depravity or misdeeds are called into question. While the president’s job approval ratings remain high, his personal integrity marks have sunk to new lows. Ignoring these problems, Clinton continued to milk applause lines from his Democratic colleagues. "Clinton looked great and delivered a masterful speech but his message lacked coherency and an overall theme," said former Reagan speech writer Peggy Noohnan.

       Throwing everything in but the kitchen sink, president Clinton once again proved his artistry at disguise and distraction. Education, family tax relief, crime and gun control, the economy, environment, health care and globalization are all very important issues. Without the respect and support of congressional colleagues, all the flowery rhetoric falls on deaf ears. Passing ambitious legislation is even more difficult. Taking his parting shots, president Clinton said a mouthful trying to prove himself secure his legacy. By sweeping his misdeeds under the table and pretending that he made amends, he missed a golden opportunity to advance his final year’s agenda. Can you really expect a new beginning with so much unfinished business?

About the Author

John M. Curtis is editor of OnlineColumnist.com. He’s also the director of a West Los Angeles think tank specializing in human behavior, health care and political research and media consultation. He’s a seminar trainer, columnist and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.

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