Monday, Feb. 07, 1983

Harry Who?

They considered Alan Alda, Mary Tyler Moore and Warren Beatty before deciding an actor was not quite right for the role. Still in search of a narrator for their film responding to Reagan's speech, the Democrats turned to Harry McPherson. Harry who?

"He had the right voice. The right appearance. No baggage. And he told a good story," said California Congressman Tony Coelho, chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. A prominent politician had been ruled out, since one could not be chosen without offending others. McPherson, 53, who in the 1960s held posts in the Department of State and served as special counsel to President Johnson, was an obscure but credible figure. What does the Texas-born lawyer make of his stardom? Shrugged he: "A friend told me that older citizens need their own sex symbols." This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so viewer discretion is required.