Dukakis Accuses Gephardt of ‘False’ Attacks

Massachusetts Gov. Michael S. Dukakis has accused Missouri Rep. Richard A. Gephardt, one of his rivals for the Democratic presidential nomination, of making “false and personal” attacks on him in a campaign dispute over trade policy and other economic issues.

The charges were made in a letter written last month to the other Democratic presidential candidates, except Gephardt, in which Dukakis explained his reasons for challenging the congressman to a debate in Iowa, which will be held Aug. 8.

The letter was marked “personal and confidential” by Dukakis, but parts of it leaked to Boston media Friday and were read to Gephardt campaign staff members, who charged Dukakis with using “inflammatory rhetoric.”

The episode had its origins in the nationally televised debate among Democratic presidential candidates last month in Houston.

Dukakis criticized trade policies advocated by Gephardt, including retaliation if other nations do not reduce their trade surpluses with the United States.

Although Dukakis did not mention Gephardt by name, Gephardt hit back sharply after the debate in an Iowa campaign speech, accusing Dukakis of embracing “the same old blame-America-first trade policy that does nothing to open foreign markets to American products.”

Dukakis cited that comment specifically in his letter to the other candidates, in which he complained also that Gephardt had attacked his record as governor.

“I know a one-on-one debate may create problems for those not participating,” Dukakis wrote, according to a source who had read the letter. “I hope this will be the only time one of us feels the need to correct false and personal attacks upon another.”

Fred Martin, campaign manager for Tennessee Sen. Albert Gore Jr., described the incident as “bizarre” and said he considered the debate an effort by both Gephardt and Dukakis to gain voter attention denied to their five rivals.

“I don’t know how remarks about trade policy and a governor’s record could be considered a personal attack,” Martin said of the reasons Dukakis gave for seeking the debate.

“He’s trying to have his cake and eat it, too,” a spokesman for another presidential campaign said. Although Dukakis wants the additional exposure he would get from a one-on-one debate, he hopes that the letter will placate the other candidates, the spokesman said.