Letter from Washington

The consensus on Capitol Hill is that the Shultz/Gromyko summit was a major boost for Ronald Reagan, and this for reasons that have nothing to do with the conclusions reached there. The meeting left the perception among rank-and-file Americans, who have no real knowledge of or interest in the details of arms control, that we are getting along with the Russians at last. This impression goes down well, especially among women, who tend to be more edgy than men about nuclear war. The lesson that the White House is reading in this is that dialogue is as good as agreement, inclining Mr. Reagan to opt for long talks with the Soviets rather than short ones. When the President goes to Capitol Hill to give his State of the Union address, watch for him to get an uncommonly warm reception, thanks principally to Geneva.

The simple double shuffle of Donald Regan and James Baker rocked the Capitol and set off clouds of speculation as to whether Regan isuptoit, who are the winners and losers, is conservatism hurt or helped, and other more arcane queries. As has been published, Mr. Regan proposed the change to Jim Baker and Mike Deaver about six weeks ago, and the matter was held closely by the three. But the official version that the President knew about the two men’s desire to change places for only some 48 hours before announcing it is a canard. Actually, Nancy first, then the President were both plugged in by Deaver in the earliest stages. Neither Ed Meese nor Bill Clark, however, had advance notice, except for some twenty minutes or so, which tells you something about who’s in and who’s out.

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The consensus on Capitol Hill is that the Shultz/Gromyko summit was a major boost for Ronald Reagan, and this for reasons that have nothing to do with the conclusions reached there. The meeting left the perception among rank-and-file Americans, who have no real knowledge of or interest in the details of arms control, that we are getting along with the Russians at last. This impression goes down well, especially among women, who tend to be more edgy than men about nuclear war. The lesson that the White House is reading in this is that dialogue is as good as agreement, inclining Mr. Reagan to opt for long talks with the Soviets rather than short ones. When the President goes to Capitol Hill to give his State of the Union address, watch for him to get an uncommonly warm reception, thanks principally to Geneva.

The simple double shuffle of Donald Regan and James Baker rocked the Capitol and set off clouds of speculation as to whether Regan isuptoit, who are the winners and losers, is conservatism hurt or helped, and other more arcane queries. As has been published, Mr. Regan proposed the change to Jim Baker and Mike Deaver about six weeks ago, and the matter was held closely by the three. But the official version that the President knew about the two men’s desire to change places for only some 48 hours before announcing it is a canard. Actually, Nancy first, then the President were both plugged in by Deaver in the earliest stages. Neither Ed Meese nor Bill Clark, however, had advance notice, except for some twenty minutes or so, which tells you something about who’s in and who’s out.