POLICY: Warming Up to Jimmy

Four years ago, the very name McGovern sent shudders through the American business community and drove executives almost unanimously into the Nixon camp. Now, the name of Jimmy Carter is stirring a totally different reaction. This early in the campaign, Carter already is picking up a few business votes—including that of Henry Ford II, chairman of Ford Motor—and has got most businessmen at least to regard him without animosity. Says Seattle Investment Banker Robert Block: "People no longer seem to equate Democrats with doomsday."

More than anything else, it is Carter's personality and style that cause businessmen to warm to him as they rarely do to a Democrat. "Nobody knows what a President is going to do," says John Bunting, chairman of Philadelphia's First Pennsylvania Bank and an early Carter fund raiser, though he is an independent. "You are always betting on the person." United Air Lines Chairman Edward Carlson, long a fan of President Ford's, finds Carter a "pretty impressive individual" because of the management talents displayed by his long climb from obscurity to the nomination. Des Moines Department Store Executive Charles Dutchin thinks Carter "is going to lead rather than be led."

Carter scores best with those businessmen who meet him face to face. Last week three Carter supporters—Henry Ford, who does not identify himself with either party, and Democrats Edgar Bronfman, chairman of Seagram Co., and J. Paul Austin, chairman of Coca-Cola—threw a meet-Jimmy lunch at Manhattan's "21" Club-and invited 49 of their colleagues. Carter assured the assembled executives that he favors "a minimum of interference of the Federal Government in free enterprise," and stressed his receptivity to criticism and advice. He also said he "would not do anything to minimize" the investment activities of multinational corporations. "I think I could feel comfortable with him," said David Mahoney, chairman of Norton Simon, after the lunch. "And for an avowed Republican, that's progress." Lehman Bros. Chairman Peter Petersen, who was briefly a member of the Nixon Cabinet, and Pan American Chief Executive William Seawell, also a Republican, were among other guests who found Carter impressive.

Waiting and Weighing. One big reason for Carter's acceptability to many businessmen is his success in resisting political pigeonholing. Allied Chemical Chairman (and former Commerce Secretary) John Connor, an early Carterite, finds the Georgian "somewhat on the liberal side. I think we need a liberal President to work with the Democratic Congress." Says Bell & Howell Chairman Donald Frey, a Republican: "I have a gut feeling that Carter is fundamentally conservative."

Precisely this protean quality, however, causes many businessmen to take a wait-and-see position. Says Philip Bogue, president of the Portland (Ore.) Chamber of Commerce and a Republican: "I think there is a more positive attitude here that businessmen could live with a Democrat in the White House—assuming Carter clarifies some of his positions."