Not Yet a Potted Plant

For the embattled President, the cheering crowds were a tonic. "Reagan, Reagan, Reagan!" chanted a chorus of young people in Port Washington, Wis., as bright balloons lofted over the Lake Michigan shoreline and a band blared campaign-style tunes. In nearby West Bend (pop. 21,000), some 30,000 people turned out to welcome the presidential motorcade. Buoyed by the lively response, Ronald Reagan scoffed at critics who claim he has lost his political punch. Said he: "I reject a potted-plant presidency."

That was, of course, a reference to one of the more memorable lines uttered during the Iran-contra hearings: Attorney Brendan Sullivan's notable...