Dukakis Apologizes Often About Biden on Iowa Trip

Massachusetts Gov. Michael S. Dukakis, battered by reports of his campaign’s role in driving Delaware Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr. out of the 1988 Democratic presidential race, came to this blue-collar city and former Biden stronghold Friday to apologize and accept responsibility for a “very serious mistake.”

At nearly every stop in a rapid swing in western Iowa, where Biden’s support was strongest, Dukakis interrupted his stump speeches to discuss in contrite tones his campaign’s secret distribution of a so-called “attack video” that showed Biden using a British politician’s campaign language without attribution. The videotape led to other disclosures that eventually forced Biden to withdraw from the race.

Dukakis repeatedly accepted responsibility for the videotape’s distribution even though he said it was done without his knowledge. He told audiences that he was amazed when he learned his campaign had been involved in Biden’s withdrawal because he had made it clear to his staff that he wanted to run a positive race.

‘Very, Very Sorry’

“I am very, very sorry that anybody in my campaign in any way contributed to what was a very, very painful experience for him (Biden) and for his family and his supporters,” Dukakis told reporters.

John Sasso, Dukakis’ campaign manager, resigned Wednesday with another senior campaign aide after admitting that he gave the video to news organizations on the condition that they not disclose which campaign provided it. The other aide, national political director Paul Tully, apparently knew that the campaign had distributed the video at a time when he was publicly denying any such involvement.

In an attempt to put the matter to rest, Dukakis repeatedly tried to explain his handling of the situation, both to reporters and to his audiences. He seemed subdued and often grim, followed by about 30 reporters instead of the four or five who usually trail candidates here at this stage in the race.

The trip to this manufacturing city of 82,000 on the Missouri River, a few miles from the Nebraska and South Dakota state lines, had been planned before the disclosure of the campaign’s role in the video.

The groups Dukakis addressed, ranging from high school students to senior citizens, generally seemed to accept his apologies. During a question-and-answer period at a luncheon with Democratic activists, no one asked about the Biden controversy. And, in a meeting with senior citizens, an elderly woman raised her hand to chastise the press for being too hard on Dukakis.

Dukakis faced his toughest moment in an evening appearance before about 100 Democratic activists, including about a dozen Biden loyalists.

The governor began his talk with an apology, calling the distribution of the video a “very, very tragic mistake.” After a few sarcastic comments and challenging remarks by the Biden supporters in the audience, the crowd warmed to Dukakis and listened respectfully. At the end he received spirited applause.

The news media trailing the candidate continued to pepper him with questions about his relationship with Sasso. Dukakis stubbornly refused to criticize Sasso’s character or to rule out further contacts with his longtime aide.

Dukakis’ handling of the video controversy has raised questions about his control over his campaign and his judgment in the selection of his staff. Despite several days of intense speculation about the source of the video, Dukakis said he had never asked Sasso whether their campaign was involved because the notion was “inconceivable.”

Some analysts see Sasso’s actions as relatively innocent, noting that he simply pointed out questionable behavior by another candidate.

But others contend that he magnified his role by making the tape and then asking for anonymity. By making his conduct surreptitious, he put himself and his candidate on the spot.

In addition, Sasso acted just as Biden was about to come face to face with a remarkable opportunity to promote his candidacy--the Senate Judiciary Committee’s confirmation hearings on Supreme Court nominee Robert H. Bork. Biden is chairman of the panel.

Impact on Bork

Not only did Sasso’s actions cut at Biden’s candidacy, they threatened the chances of defeating the Bork nomination, which many people supposed depended on Biden’s ability to present an image of self-control and integrity. Thus, even if Bork is defeated, many Democrats may find it hard to forgive and forget that it was Dukakis’ campaign manager who put their cause in jeopardy.

Dukakis met privately with Biden supporters and explained himself “the best way he could,” said Tony Bisignano, a state representative and former Biden backer who attended a private breakfast with Dukakis. After the meeting, Bisignano said he believes Dukakis “hurts” as a result of the incident and has “paid a price.” But supporting Dukakis in the Feb. 8 caucuses, the first major contest in the presidential race, would be “difficult,” Bisignano conceded.

Staff writer Robert Shogan contributed to this story.