Bush Takes Cue From Rivals, Goes on Live TV

It wasn’t two hours on the “Today” show or a live shot on MTV. It wasn’t even a half-hour radio call-in program with questions from Bob in Boston or Paula in Pittsburgh.

In his latest effort to speak directly to the American voter, President Bush sat down Monday for a live, 30-minute interview on the Cable News Network.

What emerged was an easy-going chat--about figures such as Russian President Boris N. Yeltsin and, to a much lesser degree, Ross Perot--that met with the President’s approval.

“Frankly, I like this format--just sit here in a rather relaxed way. I haven’t detected any hostility,” Bush said.

The format accomplished for Bush what few others have. It gave him access to an audience without having to go through the filter of news reporters and editors.

Two weeks ago, Bush scheduled a news conference in the hope of getting live coverage. But the three commercial broadcast networks stuck with their scheduled programming--cop shows and comedies--and the only audience available to Bush was that tuned in to CNN.

Bush said he would have no problem with Democratic rival Bill Clinton meeting with Yeltsin during his Washington visit. Such a meeting is scheduled for Thursday.

The President’s foray into midafternoon live TV, which was broadcast from the map room in the White House, followed Bill Clinton’s and Perot’s recent appearances on several television shows.

Bush, however, drew a line at establishing an 800 telephone number to allow voters to get in touch with him.

Such an approach was used successfully this year by former California Gov. Edmund G. (Jerry) Brown Jr. Brown’s 800 phone number became a centerpiece of his fund-raising efforts. Perot has used such a number to sample voter sentiment.

“I think, to turn the White House into a clearing house for 800 numbers is a little beneath the dignity of the White House,” Bush said.