Quotations

"(The president) began by saying that he was struck by the paradox that, while labor leaders were often mediocre and selfish, labor as a body took generally enlightened positions on the great issues; while businessmen were often enlightened as individuals but invariably took hopeless positions on public issues."

"As I look back over the last year and a half, the main - and persisting - error of the . . . administration has been the appeasement of business. This appeasement has been political and psychological rather than intellectual: that is, the President does not believe in the business ideology of the business community but does believe that, because of the weight of the pro-business sentiment in the Congress and because of the need of active business collaboration in economic growth and in foreign policy, it is necessary to propitiate business and yield to its particular prejudices. . . . I would guess he does not have much respect for their ideas but has considerable for their experience and feels that this experience gives them certain clues to the operation of the economy which the intellectuals, for all their superior theories, do not possess."

"(A friend) said, 'What is wrong with the President when it comes to dealing with Congress? These people spend all their time obstructing and sabotaging his program, and yet he treats them with constant consideration and respect. I suppose that is because he still views them as one senator viewing his colleagues and equals. . . . I am used to Presidents who understood their power over Congress and would not stand this nonsense. Roosevelt wouldn't. Truman wouldn't.' I said that it had taken Truman nearly three years to get over his senatorial habits and that (this President) had only been in office two years."

Now you might think these quotations are about President Barack Obama, but you'd be wrong. All three are from Arthur M. Schlesinger's book, Journals, 1952-2000, and concern President Kennedy. What strikes me here are of course the parallels. Kennedy struggled with Congress, most notably about civil rights, though he was hardly a profile in courage on the subject. He managed to get an accelerated public works program through Congress, an economic stimulus plan if you will, plumped for a rapid advance into orbital space, and negotiated a nuclear test ban treaty with the USSR. He didn't hesitate to send the military into action to defend what he thought were America's national interests. He maneuvered the Soviets into removing their missiles from Cuba without any bloodshed. (One surveillance planes pilot was killed, shot down by a SAM over Cuba.) He must bear much responsibility for the Vietnam inbroglio, however.

President Obama staked his first term on the stimulus of 2009 and the Health Care Reform Act, many of the benefits of which have not kicked in yet. It has been a struggle against an intractable Congress and despite Obama's statement that he would "call out" obstructionists, he has not managed to frighten any congressman except his supporters. President Obama considered his options for months before committing additional troops to the mountains of Afghanistan but it remains doubtful whether the "surge" there was worthwhile. He has struck hard at the Libyan tyrant without sending any ground troops and without a single casualty (so far).

Is Kennedy vindicated by history? I think he had a mixed record, but he did inspire many people and he did begin to nudge the United States away from the cold war mentality that had gripped the country during the 1950's. The Peace Corps did much good and persuaded people around the world that Americans could be their friends.

And President Obama? Will he be vindicated by the voters next year? To steal a remark from one of his most implacable critics, "Bank on it. Cash the check."