CAMPAIGN ’88 : The Way Reagan Sees It

President Reagan, surveying the political landscape one day after the final primaries, said Wednesday that the Rev. Jesse Jackson has “certainly been a viable candidate all the way.” But, he said: “I find myself in great disagreement with policies that he has proposed, as well as those of the other candidate, (Massachusetts Gov. Michael S.) Dukakis.”

Reagan, speaking to a group of non-Washington reporters invited to the White House, was asked what advice he would give to Vice President George Bush, who is trailing Dukakis. “I’d say, ‘George, wait till you and I get out there on the trail and start pinning him down on the things he claims, which we know are not true.’

“You know, if I listened to him long enough, I would be convinced that we’re in an economic downturn and that people are homeless and people are going without food and medical attention, and that we’ve got to do something about the unemployed,” Reagan said.

The President said he would do “everything I can” to help Bush, and added: “He’s been a part of everything that we’ve accomplished in this Administration.”