THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, February 19, 1996 TAG: 9602160021
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A8 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Editorial
LENGTH: Short : 50 lines
What qualities would we like most to see in our presidents?
Let's see. Vision, competence, integrity, compassion, sound judgment, clarity and a good track record? A trustworthy, knowledgeable moderate? One who searches for real solutions to problems and eschews quick fixes? A leader who builds consensus and confidence?
We don't say any one individual can fill this tall order. But out of the long lineup in the Iowa Republican presidential caucuses, Richard Lugar was one who came close.
Who is Lugar? too many would ask.
The answer is that he is a respected, effective U.S. senator with expertise in foreign affairs and agriculture, among other areas. With his solid grasp of issues, he has earned a reputation for bringing opposing sides together on crucial legislation.
A Rhodes scholar and former naval officer, he entered public life in 1964 as a member of the Indianapolis School Board. Three years later he was elected mayor and won accolades for his performance. He gained his Senate seat in 1976. If George Bush was seeking a senator from Indiana as a running mate in 1988, Richard Lugar, now 64, was the one to choose.
But it's the question - Who is Lugar? - that troubles. Relatively few voters know; fewer still know much about his service. Which helps explain his dismal finish in Iowa: seventh with only 4 percent of the vote.
Lugar's obviously going nowhere in this race. In part because he isn't flashy, rancorous or charismatic. He has a winning resume, but he's not telegenic. He just talks taxes and other issues in the context of fairness and pragmatism with the advantage of insight and experience.
One can find a parallel in the Democrats' nomination battle of '88. The class of that field was Bruce Babbitt. The former Arizona governor was the thoughtful candidate, the one whose approach to questions was informed, intelligent and balanced. Yet he trailed most, sometimes all, of the lesser talents and exited early with the quip that people told him: ``You fought a good fight; you were in it right up to the beginning.''
Especially due to television's pervasive impact - but because of the focus and emphasis on flash and style of print media as well - the unexciting, ungimmicky Lugars and Babbitts win too few nominations. The nation loses when such men are ignored. by CNB