Reagan Exempts Himself and Shultz From Lie Test : Secretary Feels Better: President

President Reagan said today that neither he nor Secretary of State George P. Shultz will have to take a lie detector test under Reagan’s new national security order to thwart spying against the United States.

Shultz, who met with Reagan today, had threatened to resign if his trustworthiness was ever questioned with a polygraph.

During an outdoor ceremony in which he accepted a huge Christmas card, Reagan was asked if he tried to change Shultz’s mind about taking a lie detector test.

Reports ‘Not True’

“Not at all,” he replied. “I just explained to him that what he read in the press in Europe is not true.”

Reagan’s directive on the use of polygraph tests to counter espionage activity and in clearances for employees dealing in highly classified materials was leaked and confirmed by the White House while Shultz, who was said to be outraged by the idea, was on a recent trip to Europe.

“Neither of us are going to have to take it,” Reagan said in response to questions.

“Yep,” he replied cryptically when asked if Shultz now felt better about his security directive.

Shultz let his feelings be known Thursday about the polygraph directive, telling reporters, “The minute in this government I am told that I’m not trusted is the day that I leave.” (Story on Page 12.)

Order Signed Nov. 1

Earlier, a White House official said it was “highly unlikely” that Shultz or other Cabinet members would be given lie detector tests unless they were directly suspected of espionage.

Reagan signed the order Nov. 1 directing the use of polygraph tests as one of the tools in the clearance procedures for officials with access to national security information.

Presidential spokesman Larry Speakes told reporters the Reagan directive “is a very broad effort to counter espionage, to stop spying.

“We’re talking about the use of polygraphs for suspected espionage cases,” he said. “If someone is suspected and we have evidence of it, one of the tools used under the order would be the polygraph.

“There are other ways,” he said. “I think everyone in this government realizes the limitations and pitfalls in the use of polygraphs.

“I think Secretary Shultz is as concerned as anyone in government about espionage and the damage it has done,” Speakes said.

Guidelines Due

Speakes noted that Reagan’s order “simply sets up an interagency group” which will establish guidelines in about a month for use of the polygraph. He said that each agency head would determine how it would be implemented.

Deputy press secretary Edward Djerejian told reporters “nothing is written in blood now on procedures. The whole objective is to get at espionage, which is a very serious problem for us, and not to get at press leaks.”

Speakes said it has not been determined whether Cabinet officials would be subjected to the random checks, but Reagan’s words appeared to rule that out.

Asked what would happen if State Department employees, taking their cue from Shultz, refused to take lie detector tests, Speakes said that in each case, the agency would administer its own tests.

Asked if a department head could exempt his agency from taking a polygraph, Speakes said “I don’t think that’s likely.”