Nation: Two for the Show

The President insists that three's a crowd in the first debate

When the danger became clear, when they saw there was no way between Scylla and Charybdis, the President and his men battened down for the whirlpool of criticism they knew was coming. With cold calculation, they had refused the League of Women Voters' invitation to debate both Ronald Reagan and John Anderson in Baltimore on the evening of Sept. 21. The alternative, they felt, was a greater risk—enhancing Anderson's stature as a contender by appearing with him in the key first debate. Maybe so, but there was also the risk that this time it was Carter who had shot himself in the foot.

Trying to explain how the decision was made, Presidential Pollster Pat Caddell said, "There are no hard data. We just assume Anderson's presence helps him, makes him more legitimate, establishes him." Such added strength, they felt, would hurt Carter far more than Reagan since Anderson has been getting most of his support in the polls from disgruntled Democrats and thus could give key states—and the election—to Reagan.

"He just doesn't deserve it," Carter told aides after the league invited Anderson to its forum. "It's a farce." Campaigning in New Jersey, the President squashed some sour grapes as he tried, with notable lameness, to defend his position. Said he: "I think Anderson is primarily a creation of the press. He's never won a primary, even in his home state. He ran as a Republican, and he's still a Republican. He hasn't had a convention. He doesn't have a party. He and his wife picked his vice presidential nominee." Later Carter told reporters that his professed willingness to debate all challengers is "unprecedented," but insisted, as he has since June, on first going one-on-one with Reagan. "This is what we want," he said.

That, however, is not what the league decided to offer. Last week, its five-woman debate committee announced that Anderson had met the criteria of becoming a "significant" candidate—attaining a 15% rating in the polls.* Said League President Ruth Hinerfeld: "Our task was relatively easy. Since the polling data were clear and unambiguous, our decision was unanimous."

For Anderson the triumph was more than just the wondrous possibility of prime time with Reagan and Carter. Simply being invited boosted his status as a major candidate, and the continuing controversy helped keep him in the news. Conferring credibility is television's greatest power: "Televiso, ergo sum—I am televised, therefore I am," as Columnist Russell Baker puts it. CBS has already committed itself to covering the Anderson-Reagan duel live; NBC and ABC were still making up their minds at week's end.

The league's decision reached Anderson as he was sipping coffee before holding a press conference in Hackensack, N.J. Two aides suddenly appeared with fists raised. "We won!" they shouted. "We're in!" Anderson strode into the press conference with the good news. "As you can tell by the smile on my face," he said, "I am certainly pleased to accept."