Dukakis Meets Tutu, Gets His Virtual Endorsement

Democratic presidential front-runner Michael S. Dukakis met today with Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa, who virtually endorsed the Massachusetts governor, saying a change was needed at the White House.

For his part, Dukakis said he supported “very strongly” new legislation that would apply tougher sanctions to that racially divided country and promised “a fundamental change in policy” toward South Africa if elected President.

Tutu said “we didn’t have a point at which we disagreed” in their 30-minute meeting.

Will Campaign in West

Dukakis met with the black South African religious leader before beginning a round of meetings with congressional leaders and heading to the West Coast to campaign in Oregon and California.

“I don’t think we need to give an endorsement, but we know we would be amongst friends and we would have very, very powerful friends in the White House if we had a Democrat occupying the White House,” Tutu said as he and Dukakis met briefly with reporters after their meeting.

“I know that our people back home would be very delighted to have a change in the White House,” Tutu said.

Dukakis, standing with Tutu, praised “your courage and your leadership.”

‘Time to Change Our Policy’

“It’s time to change our policy and I assure you if all goes well . . . there will be a fundamental change in policy,” Dukakis said. “This country has got to lead in human rights.”

The two took no questions, but Dukakis responded when asked as he was leaving if he supports new legislation proposed in Congress that would strengthen economic sanctions against South Africa. He said: “Yes I do, very strongly.”

Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.) was introducing a measure today that would require U.S. companies to shed their investments in South Africa within a year and ban trade in everything but strategic minerals and agricultural products. A similar bill is pending in the House.