PERSPECTIVES ON ROSS PEROT : He Gave the System a Good Shaking : How has the would-be third candidate’s presence in--and now absence from--the race affected our political life? : Being Nice Was Too Tough

Ross Perot alienated too many people. He came from a rarefied atmosphere and he couldn’t stand having to be nice to all those people. If you are running for office, you have got to be able to suffer fools well.

He also refused to try to turn the media around to his side. I knew he was in trouble the day he snapped off Katie Couric’s head on the “Today” show. She’s very nice--smart but not offensive. If he couldn’t take her, he couldn’t take anyone.