The Magic and the Message

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Although his ideological bent is virtually unchanged since 1980, Reagan has accommodated himself to the political exigencies of governing. He adheres to the terms of the unratified SALT II nuclear arms treaty that he condemned as a candidate four years ago. Lately he has offered to meet with the Soviets. He has not abolished the Departments of Energy and Education, as promised. In all, the Democrats will find it harder to portray Reagan as a radical. Indeed, the G.O.P. platform, its language on taxes and classroom prayer sessions toughened up last week by the party's dominant right wing, puts Reagan in the remarkable position of running a bit to the left of his party's positions.

"It's a lot easier to be a Reagan Republican today than it was in 1982," says Connecticut G.O.P. Chairman Thomas D'Amore. Since then Reagan has diluted his anti-Soviet rhetoric and, at least as significant for his re-election prospects, the grim recession has ended. Inflation is at a twelve-year low, unemployment is no worse than when Reagan took office, interest rates have fallen nine points from their peak in 1980. "The perceived well-being of the economy is very good," says Southern Pollster Claibourne Darden. "Whether Reagan is responsible for it or not is [politically] immaterial." A line Reagan used with great effect in his campaign against Jimmy Carter is, in 1984, a reverse showstopper. "Tell me," he asked in Austin last month, "are you better off today than you were four years ago?" "Yes!" they screamed. His advisers are determined to make the economic recovery the campaign issue, and believe the President must insistently take credit for it. "He's not going to be a Rose Garden President and sit on a lead," says an adviser. "Ronald Reagan is at his best when he's on the offensive."

Reagan was definitely on the offensive when, in a recent speech stuffed with the land of provocative language he calls "raw meat," he slashed at the Democrats. "Those responsible for punishing America with record inflation, record interest rates, record tax increases ... farm embargoes, gas lines ... weakness abroad and phony excuses about malaise," Reagan declared, "are the last people who should give sermonettes about misery, unfairness and compassion. Don't let them bury the American dream in their graveyard of gloom and envy."

From the podium this week in the Dallas Convention Center, the President's tone will surely be more generous and magisterial. That is all according to plan. During the campaign, explains a political adviser, "you'll see aggressive speeches alternating in phases with 'statesmanlike' material." In his statesman mode, the President will let his optimism gush, encouraging voters to attribute the upbeat national mood to the presence of Ronald Reagan in the White House. Given the Democrats' recent flag-waving, middle-class tilt, he will work hard to protect his motherhood-and-apple-pie franchise.