Strong Military a ‘Moral Duty,’ President Says

President Reagan told 3,700 cheering Marine Corps recruits here Wednesday that it is the government’s “moral duty” to provide its military forces with “the best equipment and support that America can muster.”

With his defense budget under increasing attack on Capitol Hill, the President sought to shame his congressional opponents into restoring some of the cuts that they have made in military programs, particularly the Strategic Defense Initiative, commonly called “Star Wars,” which is aimed at developing a space-based missile defense system.

“To all of those who say we must always cut defense first, that America can’t afford a strong military, I have just one thing to say: Tell it to the Marines,” Reagan declared.

Visibly Moved

When his remarks brought exuberant grunts of appreciation from the recruits, who sat cross-legged on the rain-soaked, concrete parade ground, Reagan was visibly moved. “I wonder if you have any idea what this means to a former second lieutenant of horse cavalry,” he said.

The recruits, in position for almost two hours before Reagan arrived, studied their Marine Corps handbooks as they waited stoically in the steamy yard.

Reagan touted his defense buildup, which represents the largest peacetime military increase in history, comparing it to “a time, less than a decade ago, when America’s leaders cowered before a future that looked to them dark and threatening and out of control.”

Reagan was referring to the national mood of “malaise” cited by former President Jimmy Carter, although he did not mention Carter by name.

“I believe we have accomplished too much over the past six years in rebuilding our defense to see it all undone through shortsighted cuts in the budget,” Reagan said.

Called ‘Criminal’

In New York, Secretary of State George P. Shultz also assailed efforts to cut the defense budget, calling them “criminal” in an appearance before the Foreign Policy Assn. Speaking of U.S. inability to supply more aid to the new government of the Philippines, Shultz said congressional budget cuts threaten to “pull the rug right out from under a successful foreign policy.”

He added: “I’ll say the same for the defense budget--to cut it the way the House wants, it’s criminal. We can’t let it happen, so write your senator and congressman.”

Before addressing the Marine recruits and four platoons of graduating Marines, Reagan toured a wooded and watery “confidence course” of obstacles designed to test the mettle and maneuverability of the young trainees. Two unfortunate recruits took a spill, yelling a vigorous “Marine Corps” as they fell into the drink.

The course, Reagan said later, reminded him of getting a bill through Congress. “We don’t have an alligator or sand fleas, but we got some people in Washington who could double for them in a pinch,” he said.

When Air Force One landed in Beaufort, S.C., Reagan and his party were greeted by a steady rain, which threatened to cancel the “confidence course” and drive the graduation ceremony indoors. But 10 minutes later, by the time the presidential entourage had helicoptered to the obstacle course, the rain had stopped and the sun had broken through.

Caught in Downpour

In what appeared to be yet another example of the famed Reagan luck, the skies stayed clear until literally moments after the President’s plane took off. The press corps, only minutes behind Reagan, was caught in the downpour.

Before returning to Washington, Reagan stopped in Greensboro, N.C., to speak at a fund-raiser for Rep. James T. Broyhill (R-N.C.), the GOP’s candidate for the Senate seat held by John P. East, who is retiring.

The fund-raising luncheon, which cost $500 a head, took place in the city’s cavernous Coliseum Convention Hall and raised more than $375,000 for Broyhill’s campaign coffers.