ABSTRACT
Reference to the East European dictatorships, imposed or supported by the Soviet Union, were countered by reference to ''Portugal'', ''Spain'', ''Greece'', whose rulers were on the best of terms with their common protector the United States as well as with some West European democracies. In Portugal an abrupt extremist change from one kind of dictatorship to another—based on an ideological military cadre and a minority Marxist party—was prevented. But the European democracies can claim no credit for the collapse of the compromising dictatorial regimes, and the Americans have even less right to do so. A hundred and forty years ago the nation's most celebrated interpreter, Alexis de Tocqueville, gave a great deal of space to religion in his book on Democracy in America. Revivalist religion seems to radiate a sustained and inexhaustible love. ''Rosalyn and I love you'' were Jimmy Carter's opening words at an election meeting in a small southern town.
