MISSOURI COMMENTARY: THE JFK-RMN DEBATE REVISITED

Think back to the Kennedy-Nixon television debate of 1960. Going into the debate, John Kennedy, the young, charming gentleman was deemed vulnerable to the wily, experienced veteran of innumerable political battles, Richard Nixon. But in the event, Kennedy was smooth, relaxed, articulate and photogenic. Nixon was stern, somber, sulky, stiff and sweaty.

Last Tuesday's State of the Union address by President Bill Clinton and the response by Sen. Bob Dole was, for now, the second coming of the Kennedy-Nixon debate. Clinton replayed the Kennedy role, Dole looked like an aging Nixon.

Television is a cruel medium. It makes too much of appearance, style and ambiance. If often stifles substances. After his crushing defeat by Ronald Reagan in 1984, Walter Mondale conceded that television wasn't his thing.

Television isn't for everyone. Politicians of advanced years generally suffer by it. Reagan was the glorious exception. His relaxed and cordial manner so overwhelmed the screen that the viewer didn't focus on the lines on Reagan's face. Dole is not an overwhelming TV personality. His age (72) predominates, especially when contrasted with that of Clinton (49).

The State of the Union pseudo-debate went resoundingly to Clinton. He was, from time to time, Franklin Roosevelt, Dwight Eisenhower, Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan.

Roosevelt. Although the role of the federal government may diminish somewhat, there are still things that the federal government can and should do for the overall good of the nation.

In education, every classroom and library linked to the information superhighway; "national standards of excellence;" expanded work study; Pell grants; merit scholarships; tax deductibility up to $10,000 of college tuition.

In economic policy, raise the minimum wage; preserve the income tax credit; pass the GI bill for American workers.

In health care, preserve Medicare and Medicaid.

Eisenhower. Beware of the "voices of isolation." We have "responsibilities we must fulfill." We can't be everywhere. We can't do everything. But there are many important things we can do such as Bosnia, North Korea, Haiti, Bosnia, Russian missiles, NOrthern Ireland, the Middle East -- all, so far, deemed to be Clinton foreign policy successes.

Nixon. Lost in the debris of Watergate was the fact that Richard Nixon in his time was the most important environmentalist president since Theodore Roosevelt. The Clean Air and Clean Water Acts and the Environmental Protection Agency were signed into law by Nixon. Clinton saluted Nixon by name.

Reagan. At times, Clinton was Reagan in substance and then Reagan in style.

In substance, we heard "the era of big government is over," not once but twice. How Reagan can you get?

"We know that big government does not have all the answers. There is not a program for every problem. We know we need a smaller, less bureaucratic government in Washington -- one that lives within its means." These words may well be inscribed on the Reagan Library. "But we cannot go back to the time when our citizens were left to fend for themselves." Send that one to the Truman Library.

The entire section dealing with strengthening American families was vintage Reagan. Clinton's first specific proposal was for the "V" chip so parents could screen out programs "inappropriate for their younger children."

Finally, there was a bit of Reagan's style. Clinton paid tribute to veterans. He particularly referred to the veterans of World War Ii and most particularly acknowledged Sen. Bob Dole who was seriously wounded in that war. Vintage Reagan. Often in a speech he would throw out a disarming tribute to a Democrat, living or dead.

The gallery was stacked in the Reagan tradition. In addition to Mrs. Clinton and Chelsea, you had the New England mill owner who fought to save his employees and Elie Wiesel, the Holocaust survivor. They you had two of the Oklahoma City heroes, Sgt. Jennifer Rodgers who was one of the first to reach the federal building and Richard Dean, a career Social Security worker who helped rescue people. The Republicans threw him out of work when they closed down the government. Right out of Reaganland. Images. Lovely images. Enchanting images.

Particularly in contrast to Dole's dour response, Clinton's State of the Union address was a knock-out victory for the president.

~Tom Eagleton of St. Louis is a former U.S. senator from Missouri.