Speech Massages Congress : Reagan Aims at ‘Window of Opportunity’ for Goals

Aiming at what he sees as a “window of opportunity” to advance his programs in Congress, President Reagan in his second Inaugural Address Monday emphasized conciliatory words for his adversaries even as he gave no ground on his basic philosophy and goals.

And it seemed to work. No less a political opponent than Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr. of Delaware, a liberal Democrat with presidential aspirations, said: “I really thought it was a brilliant speech. It made people feel good about their country, made people feel good about Ronald Reagan.”

Senate Majority Leader Robert J. Dole (R-Kan.), agreed. Reagan “touched all the bases. He wasn’t going after anyone. I don’t think anyone could have been offended. He was talking about healing,” Dole said.

The sharp edge that characterized much of Reagan’s first Inaugural Address four years ago was blunted in his second. The first address had been designed largely to establish the new chief executive’s presence in Washington. The more relaxed sequel sought to massage Congress and solidify public support behind his programs.

As always, Reagan’s ultimate short-range goal was to transform his overwhelming public support into congressional victories for his agenda. What set Monday’s address apart, however, was that it was not a patented Reagan effort to make the lawmakers “feel the heat if they won’t see the light.”

One White House official, speaking on condition that he not be identified, said that Reagan’s State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress on Feb. 6--his 74th birthday--will be aimed more at making Congress feel the heat. That speech will deal in detail with Reagan’s specific programs, the aide said.

The Inaugural Address--which Reagan largely drafted while vacationing in Palm Springs over the New Year’s holiday--was designed instead to be “conciliatory” and “visionary” and “uplifting,” the aide said.

Cranston Praises Speech And that is precisely what it was, according to Sen. Alan Cranston (D-Calif.), an outspoken Reagan critic in the past who is up for reelection next year in the President’s home state.

“A moving and inspiring address that restated America’s mission,” Cranston called it, echoing the reaction of many Democratic members of Congress, who conceivably had their political antennas turned to Reagan’s popularity as well as their ears tuned to his speech.

That fits nicely with the strategy of Reagan and his top advisers, who believe that the President has a relatively brief “window of opportunity” at the beginning of his second and final term to accomplish his remaining goals.

“I think this President has about a year to get anything done that he wants to do,” said John P. Sears, a student of Washington politics and one-time Reagan campaign manager. “After that, the power shifts to Congress, where there are a lot of people who will be running to replace him.”

A presidential adviser, speaking anonymously, said: “There’s a feeling in the White House that this first year is very important in terms of establishing accomplishments. And these first few speeches will be very crucial in getting the President’s legislative program off on the right track.”

The aide was referring to Reagan’s Inaugural Address, the fiscal 1986 budget message he is to send Congress on Feb. 4 and the State of the Union speech two days later.

The President and his strategists see them as a three-part package vital to providing a quick boost for Administration proposals--particularly a proposed freeze in overall government spending through drastic domestic program cuts that would offset a continued defense buildup.

Another presidential adviser said that Reagan will be speaking out more publicly in the next few weeks--resuming his weekly radio addresses this Saturday, conducting more press conferences, giving more interviews and making more speeches.

‘Fast-Moving Train’ “It’s going to be a fast-moving train through the next few months,” he said. “This President is a ‘great communicator’ and he’s going to be doing a lot of communicating.”

Richard B. Wirthlin, Reagan’s veteran pollster, said that the President built up the voters’ expectations during his reelection campaign and now faces a situation in which many of his supporters could be disappointed if he does not deliver relatively expeditiously. According to a Wirthlin survey, roughly 70% of the persons who voted for Reagan believed optimistically that “something good would happen” if the President were reelected.

“They have high expectations. He has to move and put some accomplishments on the board this year,” the pollster said.

And, in his speech Monday, Reagan made clear--as he has throughout his political career--that his personal agenda for domestic policy includes more than just controlling the federal deficit. Even more fundamental to the President is choking back the flow of funds to the federal Treasury, thereby forcing the government to shrink.

That, in turn, will reduce what he regards as Washington’s intrusion into people’s lives, Reagan believes.

“We must act now to protect future generations from government’s desire to spend its citizens’ money and tax them into servitude when the bills come due,” he exhorted. And he once again called for a constitutional amendment--which his advisers privately concede has little chance of approval--to make it illegal for the government to spend more than it takes in.