Denies ‘First Strike’ Charge by Oklahoma Protesters : Reagan, on Stump, Defends ‘Star Wars’

President Reagan defended his Strategic Defense Initiative here Friday against the charge that it would destabilize the superpower nuclear balance and give the United States a “first strike” advantage against the Soviet Union.

“The whole objective is peace, not arms superiority for the sake of conquering someone else,” Reagan said, pledging that the United States would share the missile defense system “if and when” it is developed.

Reagan made the statement after he noticed several students at a campaign rally here at the University of Oklahoma attempting to grab from a protester a sign that read, “SDI Equals First Strike.” Reagan said he was sure the sign stemmed from “a legitimate misunderstanding” of his postion.

Outside the arena, several dozen students carried pickets protesting “Star Wars,” as SDI is popularly known, and the Administration’s military aid for the Nicaraguan rebels.

Senate Race

Reagan appeared here on behalf of Sen. Don Nickles (R-Okla.), who is leading Rep. Jim Jones (D-Okla.) in public opinion polls. Nickles is among a handful of incumbents Reagan is counting on to win reelection in his battle to maintain the GOP’s slender 53-47 edge in the Senate.

From here, Reagan flew to Tampa, Fla., where he continued his campaign blitz with a sustained attack on the policies of former President Jimmy Carter and the “lighter-than-air liberalism” of the Democratic Party leadership.

“It almost feels like 1980 all over again,” Reagan said gleefully at a festive rally at the Sun Dome there for Sen. Paula Hawkins (R-Fla.), who is struggling for reelection against popular Gov. Bob Graham.

“That was the year that you sent Paula Hawkins and me to Washington to clean up a mess like this country hadn’t seen in years,” Reagan said, mentioning the “malaise” that marked the Carter years.

Cites 1980 Speech

“I can’t help but think that if you liked Jimmy Carter as President, you’ll love Bob Graham as senator,” Reagan said, citing Graham’s speech at the 1980 Democratic National Convention as evidence for his charge.

Reagan quoted Graham as saying in that speech that the nation was in “the twilight of the petroleum era,” and that it needed “all the wise warriors” of the Democratic Party.

As Reagan stumps the country in his effort to retain a narrow Republican majority in the Senate, he is resurrecting the same themes--and the same opponent--he had in 1980. White House political strategists believe that Carter remains an effective symbol of the “tax-and-spend crowd” that Reagan delights in railing against on the stump.

The White House press corps, which normally accompanies Reagan to all public events, was left behind in Oklahoma City as Reagan flew to Tampa aboard Air Force One. The chartered Pan American jet carrying the press was forced to make an emergency landing shortly after takeoff when the landing gear on the nose of the plane did not retract.