Word: avuncular
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European diplomats were delighted to find that grim Grom's avuncular-looking successor was pleasant, modest and easy to deal with, even on tough questions. Shevardnadze described himself as a pragmatist: "The Soviet Union is firmly in favor of a solid and honest dialogue," he said. "We are interested in results...
...part, Saddam sought to break his increasing isolation by portraying himself as a man of peace. His first move was to draw attention to the plight of his captives, whom he referred to as "guests of the Iraqi people." He paid a grotesquely avuncular propaganda visit to 25 British hostages, inquiring about their welfare and explaining that they were being detained to prevent a war from breaking...
Amiable and avuncular as ever, the former President, now 79, emerged from retirement to reprise his role as the chief of state who grasped the big picture but did not bother with the little one. During eight hours of videotaped testimony in a Los Angeles courtroom on Feb. 16 and 17 (a 293-page transcript was released last week), Reagan occasionally bantered with the Iran-contra special prosecutor and with lawyers for former National Security Adviser John Poindexter, who faces trial on five counts of obstructing a congressional investigation and making false statements to Congress. He gave no sign that...
Current majority leader Tom Foley's anticipated move to Speaker would satisfy the Democrats' need for an ethically pure successor. Squeaky clean and conciliatory, Foley could be to the Democrats what Jerry Ford was to the Republicans after Richard Nixon: a healing, avuncular presence and a guarantee that the congressional leadership would cease to be a staple on the nightly news. Despite some scurrilous efforts to spread rumors about him, Foley seems a shoo-in. "Only the Angel Gabriel could beat him," said one Congressman...
...urging of his advisers, Bush gradually cut out press access during his campaign. The reporters responded by becoming first obnoxious, then surly and irritable. Reagan could get away with slighting the press, but it will be harder for Bush. He lacks the Teflon that Reagan generated with his avuncular, good- hearted manner. If Bush allows criticism to drive him into a beleaguered posture, as it did during the 1984 campaign, he and the media will have a long four years indeed...