Bush, Kemp in Pointed Clash; Relish Two-Man Texas Debate

Vice President George Bush and New York Rep. Jack Kemp clashed Friday night in a debate made notable by the absence of their two boycotting Republican counterparts and by a sharp exchange in which Bush asserted Kemp won’t understand war until “you’ve seen your fellow men drop dead.”

Two empty red chairs on the stage at Southern Methodist University’s McFarlin Auditorium marked the places of Kansas Sen. Bob Dole and former religious broadcaster Pat Robertson, who withdrew from the debate after complaining that its audience was loaded with Bush supporters.

Bush and Kemp decried their competitors’ absence but clearly enjoyed not having to share the stage with them.

“I think they made a big mistake,” Bush said.

‘A Two-Man Race’

Kemp joked: “I’m glad to see the race coming down to a two-man race.”

The most pointed clash between the two mimicked one heard in Sunday’s debate preceding the New Hampshire primary. Once again, Bush defended the Intermediate Nuclear Forces treaty recently signed by President Reagan, and Kemp contended it rewards the Soviets despite their violation of prior arms treaties.

“You have yet to mention how important it is that this country stand for something beyond just peace,” Kemp said.

“I’m not embarrassed to say I’d like a more peaceful world,” Bush replied, jabbing his finger at Kemp. “I’ve fought for my country in combat. I’ve been there. And you don’t know what it is like until you’ve seen your fellow men drop dead.”

“I don’t need a lecture,” Kemp retorted.

Wants SDI Research First

On the related matter of the deployment of the space-based Strategic Defense Initiative--or “Star Wars”--Bush said he would favor deployment if research indicates the system will be effective.

Kemp said he favored deployment of the system on a piecemeal basis as soon as components are ready. “If I were President I would research, test, develop and build (SDI),” Kemp said to a burst of applause from the audience.

The other major sparring point was Bush’s recently announced proposal for a four-year spending freeze on the overall federal budget. The freeze would allow specific programs to be increased or decreased, but the total would remain within a 4% inflationary rise.

Bush defended the idea as a way to balance the budget within four years, but Kemp seized on it as a “boring” idea that would “turn off all the young people.”

Sees Array of Problems

“To suggest here in February, 1988, with the problems we face with the influx of drugs, the problems we face with the so-called buildup of first strike nuclear weapons by the Soviet Union, with the problems that exist . . . (that there will be) anemic growth for the next four years is disappointing,” Kemp said.

“I care about the deficit, Jack, and I don’t think you’ve ever cared about the deficit,” Bush countered.

The Texas debate became a one-on-one affair when both Dole and Robertson withdrew Thursday, each claiming that Bush had received more tickets to the event.

Event organizers said each campaign received the same number of tickets--60--and the remainder of the 2,400 seats went to sponsors, local and state political officials and student groups.

Moderator Roger Mudd, special correspondent for the Public Broadcasting System, also denied suggestions that Bush had been leaked the debate’s questions in advance on Thursday.

Questions Freshly Written

“I would like to say that is not true,” he said at the beginning of the debate. “The questions were written only this afternoon.”

The absence of half of the Republican candidate quartet forced organizers to slice the length of the debate to half what the Democrats enjoyed in a spirited exchange Thursday night.

Dole and Robertson’s refusal to join the debate drew huge notice in Texas, where news organizations gave prominent display to the snub. Dole’s action came despite advice to the contrary by his Texas co-chairman, who called the forum a good opportunity for the Kansas senator. Dole’s Southern organization is believed to lag far behind that of Bush.

Calls Texas ‘Home’

Bush also holds an advantage in that he once lived in Texas, began his political career here and considers Houston his home town. He referred in his debate closing statement, in fact, to Texas being his “home state.”

Mudd introduced him as “Vice President George Bush of Texas . . . and Massachusetts and Connecticut and Maine.”

Kemp, however, got even with his closing statement.

“Leadership,” he said, “is not rolling out a resume or talking about where you were born.”