Reagan, on Stump, Hits ‘Star Wars’ Foes

President Reagan, buoyed by a White House poll showing that a large majority of the public supports his hard-line “Star Wars” position, called on voters in a campaign appearance here Wednesday to challenge congressional candidates to declare where they stand on the controversy surrounding his space-based defense system.

Fighting to preserve Republican control of the Senate in next month’s elections, Reagan warned that a Democratic takeover could imperil his Strategic Defense Initiative, as the “Star Wars” program is formally known. “SDI is the key to a world free of nuclear blackmail,” he said at a fund-raising luncheon for GOP senatorial candidate Linda Chavez. “Don’t let the liberals in Congress throw it away.”

Congress Renews Debate

Reagan’s refusal to make concessions on the “Star Wars” system in his summit meeting with Soviet leader Mikhail S. Gorbachev has prompted renewed questioning in Congress about the scientific feasibility of the space-based weapon, with critics charging that Reagan missed a historic opportunity in Reykjavik to make significant cuts in superpower nuclear arsenals.

The President assailed his critics in language reflecting his confidence that the public is behind him. “It would be a terrible tragedy for this country and for our children’s future if those on Capitol Hill opposed to SDI are allowed to hand over to the Soviet Union free of charge what we refused to hand over across the negotiating table in Reykjavik,” Reagan said.

He said that congressional opponents of SDI are “promising to take a meat ax and chop up America’s Strategic Defense Initiative, which is exactly what Mr. Gorbachev is hoping that Congress will do.”

In the immediate aftermath of the Reykjavik summit, White House Chief of Staff Donald T. Regan said that the “Star Wars” program would be “held in reserve” on the campaign trail until GOP strategists determine its potential impact on the critical fall elections. With early numbers provided by White House pollster Richard B. Wirthlin showing overwhelming support for Reagan’s position to press forward with “Star Wars,” the decision was made to introduce it into the campaign.

74% Favor Research

Wirthlin told reporters that 74% of those polled after the summit said they favored research on SDI, which was described by the questioner as “a defense against nuclear-armed missiles.” The wording of the question avoided mention of “Star Wars.”

Skeptics pointed out that the response might not have been as favorable if different wording were used or if SDI had been described as a space-based defense. Such terms tend to spark people’s fears about an arms race in space, they note.

Still, Wirthlin’s findings were good news for Reagan. When asked if the weekend stalemate in Reykjavik was “a major setback in arms negotiations with the Soviet Union” and whether Reagan “missed a historic opportunity to end the arms race,” a substantial majority of 80% responded that Reykjavik was not a setback. Only 18% of those polled viewed the summit in negative terms.

Meanwhile, a Washington Post-ABC News poll reported that more than 60% of Americans approve of President Reagan’s handling of relations with the Soviet Union, including his stance at the Iceland summit. The poll found, however, that 49% also believe that he could do more to further nuclear arms control.

64% Back Handling of Summit

The polling, conducted Tuesday, showed that 64% approved of Reagan’s handling of the summit, while 22% disapproved. Similarly, 55% backed his decision not to accept limits on the Strategic Defense Initiative, with 16% dissenting and 27% saying they did not know enough about the space-based missile defense to have an opinion.

As the fall campaign enters its crucial, closing weeks, Reagan is expected to travel to another dozen states where GOP senatorial candidates are in tight races.