THERE'S A NEW KID ON THE BLOCK

The new kid on the block the 1600 block of Pennsylvania Ave. brings with him a cat, a saxophone and a promise of change.

As President-elect Bill Clinton prepares for his inauguration Jan. 20, local political experts and observers say change is inevitable. They say the country should look for increased emphasis on domestic issues, especially spurring the economy and cutting the national debt.

But they warn of potential pitfalls in the foreign policy arena, where his predecessor George Bush excelled.

Clinton will be the nation's third youngest president; Theodore Roosevelt was 42, John Kennedy was 43 and Clinton is 46.

"He's going to reflect, I think, the lifestyle of his generation," said Peter Bergerson, political science professor at Southeast Missouri State University.

"He has a teen-age daughter. Bush had teen-age grandchildren. I think it will have an impact on the country."

But what will Clinton do while he's at the office?

"Clinton will be much more of an activist president," Bergerson said, "particularly in comparison to the last 12 years when the general mode has been for the private sector and non-governmental intervention."

It won't be an easy road for Clinton to follow, Bergerson said.

"The nation can't go from almost a laisse-faire approach to an activist approach and expect the public to accept it overnight," Bergerson said. "I think that President Clinton will recognize that. He was elected by 43 percent of the public. From a political perspective and a public opinion perspective, he needs to build a strong political support for his program."

Bergerson said the Clinton administration will likely focus on domestic issues early. Key issues include the economy, the deficit, health care and the environment.

Two key players in the Clinton administration will be the first lady and the vice president, the professor believes.

"They may be very visible in this administration, something we have not seen in the last 12 years," Bergerson said. "I think Hillary Clinton will be much more visible in a policy role."

He also predicted her involvement will be a hotly debated topic.

"Just as Bill Clinton represents a new generation of presidents, Hillary Clinton represents a new generation of presidential spouses. She played an activist role in Arkansas."

Vice President-elect Al Gore will also play a prominent role, Bergerson said, "particularly in domestic policy, and especially the environment."

While Clinton was elected to make changes at home, international issues may force him to focus abroad.

"It's clear foreign policy is not his forte," Bergerson said. "About 90 percent of the election was devoted to domestic issues. But foreign policy cannot be ignored and he will be forced to address these issues. I think it will be a challenge for him.

"Bosnia-Herzegoeina will be perhaps the first and potentially the most serious situation," Bergerson said. "I think the Middle East is second.

"If Boris Yeltsin is toppled in the Soviet Union, that could really be a very serious problem, perhaps more serious than the other two," Bergerson said.

Among those eagerly anticipating the change to a Clinton administration is Cape Girardeau attorney John Cook.

"I think we're facing a potentially exciting change of direction," Cook said. Twelve years under Reagan and Bush saw conservative politics. In Clinton, Cook looks for a more middle-of-the-road approach.

"Clinton represents the first centralist administration this country has had since John Kennedy."

In fact, Cook likens Clinton to Kennedy.

"You have the same feeling of a chance to really make a difference that you had when Kennedy took over in 1961," Cook said. "Kennedy was a young, vigorous new generation taking over after the Eisenhower retrenchment. Clinton is a young, vigorous new generation taking over after the retrenchment of Reagan and Bush."

Cook predicts that rebuilding the industrial and manufacturing base of the nation, emphasizing education and overhauling the nation's infrastructure will be top concerns.

Cook said Clinton has his work cut out to live up to the nation's expectation of change.

"I think when you have the public expecting great change and great movement, it is necessary to pass some legislation early and to appear to be moving aggressively," he said. "But I hope the Clinton administration does not over-react, trying to feed that public anticipation."

Unlike Cook, J. Christopher Schnell, history professor at Southeast Missouri State University, believes the Clinton administration will not mirror that of Kennedy.

Instead, Schnell says Clinton's administration will more closely resemble that of Jimmy Carter.

"If you liked the Carter administration, you will love the Clinton administration," he said. "There will not be a duplication of the type of charism and image of JFK; 1993 will not resemble 1961."

But Schnell believes Clinton will prove a smarter politician than Carter.

Schnell agrees that foreign affairs will pose the greatest challenge for the new president.

"These are foreign policy situations for which is he not trained," Schnell said. "Ironically, the problems he was elected for (the economy) seem to be solved and problems for which he is not trained are exacerbating," Schnell said.

"Clinton comes into office facing a number of sticky situations," Schnell said. "The great hope for 1993 and throughout his administration is that he does not become bogged down in some kind of trap, such as the Iranian hostage situation for Carter."

Blair Moran, GOP committeeman and veterans affairs activist from Sikeston, will watch the Clinton administration dealings of both domestic and foreign affairs with caution.

Like the others, Moran agreed that foreign issues could pose problems for Clinton.

"As a Republican, I would much rather have George Bush handling our nation's foreign affairs, but as an American I do wish him the best," Moran said. "Despite the fall of communism, there are still a lot of problems the nation will have to deal with. I hope he can develop the same type of grasp of foreign affairs that George Bush has."

But Moran will be watching Clinton's work at home more closely.

"It will be interesting since President-elect Clinton is a Democrat and we have a Democratic Congress to see what kind of coalition they can forge to stop the so-called gridlock," Moran said.

"I hope the president-elect would focus on balancing the budget and bringing fiscal sanity back to the government," Moran said. "I think the number one priority will be to balance the budget."

He also hopes that a coalition will give the president the line item veto.

"I think it's very important that the president be given that option that the Democratic Congress denied Reagan and Bush the last 12 years," he said.

The local observers agree it will be interesting to watch the next four years unfold.

Schnell said, "He has a lot ahead of him. Clinton has got to bring that debt down. He will have to address the problems of a balanced budget and the debt. Then he will have to try to honor some of his campaign promises."