He Attacks ‘Pundits’ to Cheers of Conservatives : Reagan: ‘Saving Best Stuff for Last Act’

President Reagan, chiding “pundits” for writing off his scandal-torn Administration two years before it ends, said Friday that “we’re saving the best stuff for the last act.”

Reagan’s defiant declaration, reflecting characteristic optimism in the face of travail, elicited cheers and applause from conservative activists attending the 14th annual meeting of the Conservative Political Action Conference.

The President acknowledged that “the going may be a little rough at this moment” because of the scandal over the U.S. sale of arms to Iran and diversion of proceeds to rebels fighting the leftist regime of Nicaragua.

Emphasizes Resolve

However, he added, “let no one doubt our resolve. Six years ago, we won a great victory (by sweeping Democrats out of the White House), and we do not intend to let anyone again drag our beloved country back into the murky pit of collectivism and statism.”

Reagan said that “the pundits told us we couldn’t expect to get anything accomplished, even before we got to Washington. Now, they’re trying to bring the curtain down even before the show is over. Well, I learned a lesson in my former profession, so let me give you a tip: We’re saving the best stuff for the last act.”

Many in the audience responded with chants of “four more years” to the remarks by the President, who provided no details of what the “last act” would contain.

Reagan drew laughter with this line: “The notion that government controls, central planning and bureaucracy can provide cost-free prosperity has now gone the way of the Hula Hoop, Nehru jackets and the all-asparagus diet.”

Kemp Assails Shultz

Meanwhile, in an earlier speech to the umbrella group of about 40 conservative organizations, Rep. Jack Kemp (R-N.Y.) called for Secretary of State George P. Shultz to resign, charging that he had “nearly crippled” Reagan’s foreign policy goals.

Kemp, seeking to build conservative support for a run at the 1988 Republican presidential nomination, alleged that Shultz had undermined “freedom fighter” rebellions in Nicaragua, Angola, Afghanistan, Cambodia, Laos, Ethiopia and Mozambique.

In addition, Kemp assailed Shultz for “rolling out the red carpet” for Oliver Tambo, whom the congressman described as the “communist head of the terrorist African National Congress.” Shultz met recently here with Tambo, whose organization is the main guerrilla group fighting South Africa’s white rule.

Shultz, who has said he plans to remain as secretary through the end of the Administration, had no comment on Kemp’s attack.

Abortion, School Prayers

In his remarks to the conservatives, Reagan sought to allay criticism from some in their ranks that he is doing too little on such social issues as abortion and school prayers.

The President said he is pushing for a permanent legislative ban against nearly all federally funded abortions. He urged the group to move “aggressively” to encourage adoption as an alternative to abortion.

“I would like to commend those in our movement who, while not easing up on applying political pressure, have been involved in providing counseling and services, especially to unwed mothers,” he said. “Every time a choice is made to save an unborn baby’s life, it is reason for joy.”

The President also pledged that “we will not compromise in our commitment to restore the right to pray to the schoolchildren of America.”

Reagan has supported a constitutional amendment to allow for a moment of silent prayer in school. Congress last addressed the issue in 1985 when the Senate, then under Republican control, voted 62 to 36 to reject legislation aimed at permitting organized prayer in public schools.