CAMPAIGN ’88 : ‘Kiss-and-Tell’ Books Not Dukakis’ Cup of Tea

Democrat Michael S. Dukakis and Republican Ronald Reagan may not agree on much, but they do agree about the impropriety of “kiss-and-tell” books by disgruntled former aides.

“Like most elected officials, I think it’s very unfortunate,” Dukakis, the front-runner for the Democratic nomination, said Wednesday when asked about the new White House memoir by former Reagan Chief of Staff Donald T. Regan. “There are very few of us about whom books couldn’t be written by people who aren’t very happy with us about our strengths and weaknesses.”

Reagan is particularly justified in resenting Regan’s attacks on First Lady Nancy Reagan, the Massachusetts governor said, adding: “Those of us who are close to our spouses have a right to be irritated.” Regan’s book sharply criticized Nancy Reagan for trying to take an active role in setting policy and for allowing her interest in astrology to influence the presidential schedule.

“I don’t think any of us demand blind loyalty from the people who work for us,” Dukakis said, “but one aspect of the loyalty I think we have a right to expect is that when you leave, you leave quietly.”

Dukakis takes some steps to help prevent the sort of memoirs that, he said, have “reached epidemic proportions” in the Reagan Administration. Routinely, for example, he tears up campaign strategy memos after reading them, believing that “if you have it in writing, you should expect to see it on the front page.”

Perhaps in part because of such precautions, he has only once been the subject of a memoir by a former staff member. “It was just an article of sorts” giving an inside perspective on Dukakis’ work as governor, “and I didn’t appreciate it.”