Reagan, Irked by Reporters’ Questions, Mouths Expletive : Reagan’s Expletive to Press: ‘It’s Sunny, and You’re Rich’???

President Reagan, after cutting off reporters’ persistent questions during a photo session, turned to a White House guest today and remarked, “Sons of bitches.”

Reagan was trying to end the session with chairman David Packard and other members of the President’s Blue Ribbon Commission on Defense Management.

While photographers took their pictures, Reagan answered questions on waste in defense spending and on the United States helping ex-Philippine President Ferdinand E. Marcos and associates bring money and jewelry into the United States.

“I think now we’ve got to get on with some more meetings,” Reagan said.

Another reporter then asked if Philippine President Corazon Aquino should have released a Marxist leader from prison.

“I don’t know,” Reagan said. “I really don’t know.”

At that point, the President turned to Packard and murmured, “Sons of bitches.”

The remark was picked up by the White House microphones in front of him and monitored by news organizations throughout the White House press room.

A junior member of the White House press office staff told reporters and camera crews, whom she had been trying to escort out of the Cabinet Room, “Let’s go. Thank you. This way please.” And when they apparently didn’t move fast enough to satisfy her, she began pulling the camera crews’ cables out of the White House sound system.

Presidential spokesman Larry Speakes, asked later about Reagan’s comment, said the President “doesn’t recall saying it. He doesn’t recall anybody else saying it.”

“If he said anything,” Speakes added, “he said, ‘It’s sunny, and you’re rich.’ ”

Asked to whom Reagan was referring, the spokesman said, “They know who they are.”