France Goes To The Polls For Round 1
Another busy day in the world of 1981.
Starting with Secretary of State Alexander M. Haig Jr. and Foreign Minister Huang Hua of China concluded the first of three days of high level Chinese-American talks Sunday in apparent agreement on the need for closer strategic cooperation to counter Soviet activities around the world. A senior aide to Haig, in briefing reporters after the two-hour Haig-Huang session, said there was “a great deal of unanimity” that the main problem in the world today is “Soviet hegemonism.’ Huang, in a banquet toast Sunday night, said that the Chinese “attach importance to the strategic relationship between China and the United States,” despite the differences that exist between them “in policy and viewpoint.’ Haig, reported Saturday to believe that there was a “strategic imperative” for closer ties because of the Soviet threat, said in Sunday that “Chinese-American cooperation is all the more important when we confront serious peace and tranquility.’ Last week, the Chinese publicly rebuked the Reagan administration for its pledge to continue to supply defensive armaments to Taiwan, and raised doubts that it would cooperate with the United States if such sales to Taiwan were not curtailed.
And from Europe – Many French people are still incredulous at the fact that France has gone socialist after 23 years of conservative rule. Particularly the Socialists and Communists. “I still can’t believe that we are no longer in opposition. It just seems so unreal,” remarked a young lawyer as he sipped lemonade on the sunny terrace of a nearby cafe. “But we really won’t know what it is like to be in power until after the (June 14 and 21) legislative elections.’ Since taking office May 21.
France’s new President, Francois Mitterrand, has moved quickly but prudently toward establishing credibility in the eyes of the French electorate. Still riding a wave of left-wing enthusiasm, the Socialists are keen on taking full advantage of it in the coming elections. Only then will France’s new majority demonstrate how serious it is about supporting a Socialist it the working government majority it needs. The future will be decided, observed Jean Poperen, the Socialist Party’s electoral specialist, “on whether the French will seek to counterbalance the powers of the new President or whether they will provide him with the means to pursue his policies. Only a sweeping vote, as happened in 1958 with De Gaulle, can give the Socialists the seats they require.” According the latest opinion poll, the Socialists can expect to do remarkably well although analysts are hesitant to predict anything that might resemble a landslide victory. Mitterrand, it appears, will more likely than not have to rely on a leftwing coalition ranging from Communists and neo-Gaullists to obtain a majority in the National Assembly.
And from Capitol Hill, A Wilmington College economist says President Reagan is making changes for the better in the nation’s economy without really having to tinker with it much. Martin Giesbrecht, chairman of the college’s Department of Economics and Administration, says the president is using “the Bob Hope effect.’ “All that is happening is that people are seeing the president and feeling that he is doing something,” said Giesbrecht. “Whether he does or not isn’t absolutely critical. “The economy will react to what people believe,” he said.
“And if they believe inflation is licked, they will start investing again and, lo and behold, the economy will, in fact, improve. And all because people f feel this is what President Reagan is accomplishing. “It’s what I call the ‘Bob Hope’ WILMINGTON. Ohio (UPI) A Wilmington College economist says President Reagan is making changes for the better in the nation’s economy without having to tinker with it really much. Martin Giesbrecht, chairman of the college’s Department of Economics and Administration, says the president is using “the Bob Hope effect.’ “All that is happening is that people are seeing the president and feeling that he is something,” said doing Giesbrecht.
“Whether he does or not isn’t absolutely critical. “The economy will react to what people believe,” he said. “And if they believe inflation is licked, they will start investing again and, lo and behold, the will, in fact, improve. economy And all because people f feel this is what President Reagan is accomplishing. “It’s what I call the ‘Bob Hope’ effect.’ All Hope has to do to get people to laugh is to walk on the stage, without saying a word,” said Giesbrecht. “All President Reagan has to do, apparently, is to make people believe he is improving the economy, and it does improve.” Giesbrecht, a member of the executive board of the Ohio Association of Economists and Political Scientists, feels this is more than a matter of charisma. “It’s a sense of identity, perhaps,” he said. “People seem to relate to and identify with a Bob Hope or a Ronald Reagan. We want Hope to tell a funny and joke so that we can laugh with him, this makes the jokes Hope does tell seem even funnier.
“In the same way, we want Reagan to succeed in strengthening the economy and so we believe he is doing just that,’effect.’ All Hope has to do to get people to laugh is to walk on the stage, without saying a word,” said Giesbrecht. “All President Reagan has to do, apparently, is to make people believe he is improving the economy, and it does improve.” Giesbrecht, a member of the executive board of the Ohio Association of Economists and Political Scientists, feels this is more than a matter of charisma. “It’s a sense of identity, perhaps,” he said. “People seem to relate to and identify with a Bob Hope or a Ronald Reagan. We want Hope to tell a funny joke so that we can laugh with him, and this makes the jokes Hope does tell seem even funnier.
“In the same way, we want Reagan to succeed in strengthening the economy and so we believe he is doing just that,’.
And that’s just a little of what happened, this June 15, 1981 as presented by The CBS World News Roundup.
