Letter from Washington

While Ronald Reagan was sequestered at the Naval Hospital in Bethesda, Capitol Hill was buzzing with questions (and answers) about the political impact of his cancer surgery.

Republicans were modestly optimistic. “In the short term, when it comes to criticizing the President, people will pull their punches,” said one Republican campaign strategist. “But in a few weeks he’ll be running around looking younger than we do, and then the critics will be out in force.” A Senate staffer put it this way: “Reagan will walk away with tremendous good will and political capital that he can hold in reserve as a weapon.”

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While Ronald Reagan was sequestered at the Naval Hospital in Bethesda, Capitol Hill was buzzing with questions (and answers) about the political impact of his cancer surgery.

Republicans were modestly optimistic. “In the short term, when it comes to criticizing the President, people will pull their punches,” said one Republican campaign strategist. “But in a few weeks he’ll be running around looking younger than we do, and then the critics will be out in force.” A Senate staffer put it this way: “Reagan will walk away with tremendous good will and political capital that he can hold in reserve as a weapon.”