□ Governor Mario Cuomo has remarked that the Presidency is the most important position “in the universe.” And they worried about an imperial Presidency.
□ Resigning, from his hospital bed, as CIA director, William Casey deserves the admiration of his fellow citizens for the way in which he has served this Republic over the years. It would be impossible to do justice in this space to the duties he has performed, from OSS manager of our relations with the French Resistance during World War II, through law, teaching, writing, and public office. He personally was responsible for adding some starch to the 1968 Nixon campaign. Under his rigorous direction, the CIA has recovered much of its capability after the disasters of Church and Colby. Casey’s successor, Robert Gates, is a thorough professional. But his appointment was unimaginative, an indication that the Reagan Administration is on political hold. If the Administration had been going for a scoring play, Jeane Kirkpatrick or Henry Kissinger or any one of a dozen others would have been more aggressive and exciting.
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