Babbitt Says Dukakis Stands for Status Quo

While the survivors in the Democratic presidential race were battling in the East, one candidate who did not make the cut sat in a restaurant the other day and talked philosophically of the campaign and what he had learned.

“It is a testimony to the paucity of the debate that my proposals seemed so radical,” said Bruce Babbitt, the former governor of Arizona who quit the primary contests in February after poor showings in Iowa and New Hampshire.

Although he was praised for his thoughtfulness and courage, Babbitt got nowhere when he proposed needs-testing for benefit programs and said bluntly that the next President will have to raise taxes.

Now back in Phoenix practicing law, Babbitt, 49, said he still felt he was part of the political process because he has been asked to give a major economic address in Japan next month and will travel to Central America in June to observe peacemaking efforts there.

“I am here to tell you that there is life after a presidential race,” said a smiling, relaxed Babbitt.

Lesson From Dukakis

If he had it to do over again he would still make bold, if impolitic, proposals, he said, but he conceded that Massachusetts Gov. Michael S. Dukakis’ success with a cautious, methodical game plan had taught him something.

“Mike has stated a general theme and stuck with it relentlessly,” Babbitt said, “and his success probably has something to do with the times we live in and with our national character.

“The nature of our democracy and the structure of our political system . . . is one of status quo. We live for today, and planners and prophets are run off the field.

“We drift into crises that could have been avoided and then seem to have an almost magical capacity to mobilize.

“That was the case before we got into World War II, and it was the case with the civil rights movement.”

As an example, Babbitt said the Supreme Court ordered the integration of public schools in 1954, but “not a damn thing was done until people were getting beaten over the head in Alabama 10 years later.”

Babbitt said he thought Dukakis had grown as a campaigner in recent weeks, but that he feels emotionally closer to the Rev. Jesse Jackson, whom he met when both were marching for civil rights causes in Selma, Ala., 20 years ago.

“I think the reason some people have a hard time getting a handle on Jackson is that he is larger than life,” Babbitt said. “We are accustomed now to politicians who have rounded off all the edges and suppressed the things that make people interesting and different.”

Although he continues to follow the Democratic race, Babbitt’s constantly probing mind these days is more often focused on Central America.

Raising the standard of living there and establishing moderate governments is his major interest, and some pundits have suggested that a Democratic Administration might make him a special ambassador to the region.

Fluent in Spanish

As to why the problems in Central America seem so intractable, Babbitt, a Roman Catholic who is fluent in Spanish, said:

“Those countries inherited a woeful legacy--the authoritarian traditions of both the Spanish Crown and the Roman Catholic Church. They continue to struggle to shake this cultural heritage of always looking upward for authority.

“The United States, on the other hand, has a tradition of individual responsibility inherited from both the British parliamentary system and the Protestant Reformation.”

Still, he is optimistic that life in Central America can be improved if the countries take a regional approach to their problems.

“The regional approach put forth by President (Oscar) Arias of Costa Rica is the only hope,” Babbitt said, “because it strengthens the leaders of the individual countries.”

Would he be willing to serve a new Democratic Administration in some capacity?

“The answer is yes,” Babbitt replied, smiling, “but I’m not packing my bags and waiting for a call.”