THE NATIONAL STYLE
523
a realistic assessment of the possibility of undermining Soviet power
in eastern Europe. Until recently, there has been little evidence that
American foreign policy is guided by a sense of historical time and
an accurate assessment of social forces.
Styles of action reflect the character of a society. The classic
style was worked out during a period when America was an agrarian,
relatively homogeneous society, isolated from the world at large, so
that
ad hoc
measures were a realistic way of dealing with new
strains.
As
an adaptive mechanism, it served to bring new groups
into
society. But styles of action, like rhetoric, have a habit of
outliving institutions. And the classic style in no way reflects the
deep structural changes that have been taking place in American
life in the past quarter of a century.
II
The psychological stock-in-trade of the radical Right
is
an
"ideologizing" of the American style.
It
rests on a three-fold appeal:
the breakdown of moral fiber in the United States; a conspiracy
theory about a "control apparatus" in the government which is
selling out the country; and a detailed forecast regarding the Com–
munist "take-over" of the United States.
Central to the appeal of the radical Right
is
the argument
that old-fashioned patriotism has been subverted by the cosmopolitan
intellectual. An editorial in the
National Review
on the space flight
of astronaut John Glenn sums up this theme in striking fashion.
Glenn, said the editorial, is an authentic American hero because he
is unashamed to say that he gets a thrill when the American flag
goes by and because he will openly acknowledge the guidance
of God.
It is 'American' as in older storybooks, as in legends,
and myths and dreams-brought up to technological date, of
course-as, let's say it plainly, in the pre-1930 Fourth of July
celebrations; and the
Saturday Evening Post
covers before they,
too, not long ago, went modern; and a touch of soap opera.
Yes, a bit corny-for that is the traditional American style.
Too corny by far for the Norman Cousinses, Arthur Schlesingers,
Adlai Stevensons, Henry Steele Commagers, Max Lerners, John
