Dukakis Assails Administration on Ethics

Democratic presidential hopeful Michael S. Dukakis charged Monday that the Reagan Administration has fostered a climate in Washington that is “contemptuous about public service” and therefore prone to abuse the public trust.

The Administration’s view that “government and public service are problems is really what’s causing all the difficulty” with recent Washington scandals, Dukakis said in what were his most extensive comments on the Administration’s ethics since the burgeoning of the current Pentagon procurement scandal.

Monday’s comments appear to represent an attempt to broaden the emphasis Dukakis has been making on ethical issues, blaming the Administration for a general moral deficiency, rather than focusing on specific cases, such as that of Atty. Gen. Edwin Meese III.

Exchange Charges

Also on Monday, the Massachusetts governor and his prospective Republican opponent, Vice President George Bush, exchanged charges once again over who has been more effective in the fight against drugs.

Dukakis, speaking to the National Broadcast Editorial Assn. meeting here, touted his state’s anti-drug programs, which have been praised by federal Drug Enforcement Administration officials. And he criticized the Administration for “trying to run the war on drugs with a committee.”

Noting that 11 Cabinet departments and 19 agencies have some role in drug fighting, Dukakis objected that “there is nobody in charge, there’s nobody accountable.”

Memorial Service

Bush, surrounded by the families and co-workers of three slain DEA agents at the agency’s annual memorial service in Washington, said he hoped his remarks would not be seen as political.

“But in this political season,” he continued, “I hear comments from both parties, people in both parties highly critical, giving no credit at all for the job that the men and women in this room and across this country are doing.

“And it burns me up. It’s not fair, it’s not accurate and I just want you to know that I respect and appreciate what you all are doing.”

He did not mention Dukakis, but the vice president’s criticism of the Democrat was implicit.

Backs Death Penalty

Bush received a standing ovation when he called for capital punishment for major drug traffickers, saying: “I really do believe the death penalty is the answer.”

In responding to Bush’s remarks, Dukakis commented: “We have the death penalty in many states. Is it doing any good? Have you seen any significant reduction in drug trafficking? Who’s kidding whom?”

The broadcast convention was also the setting for Dukakis’ charges about Administration ethics. Over the last few weeks, allegations that House Speaker Jim Wright (D-Tex.) has misused the influence of his office have posed a dilemma for Dukakis and other Democrats wishing to use the “sleaze factor” against GOP candidates. Monday’s remarks, with their focus on attitudes rather than individual cases, may foreshadow the approach that the Democrats will now try to use.

The current scandal, Dukakis said, “has to raise increasing questions about just what we have been doing and what all these billions we’ve been pouring into the Pentagon have been buying.”

25th Anniversary

Later, Dukakis planned to celebrate his 25th wedding anniversary by going out to dinner with his wife, Kitty.

Today, he will fly to Los Angeles, where he plans to meet with his remaining Democratic rival, the Rev. Jesse Jackson. The meeting will be their first since Dukakis clinched the Democratic nomination by defeating Jackson in the California and New Jersey primaries on June 7.

Jackson has said that at this meeting he would bring up what has become the most ticklish issue that Dukakis currently faces, Jackson’s demand that he be “considered” for the vice presidential spot on the ticket.

Independent Movement

Senior Dukakis aides, and some in the Jackson camp as well, have expressed concern that the Jackson-for-vice-president drive, which many viewed initially as a bargaining position by Jackson, has begun to turn into an independent movement that neither man can control.

“It could be out of hand,” said Donna Brazile, who as deputy field director is the senior black political operative on Dukakis’ campaign staff. The potential for disappointed Jackson supporters to turn against the party if he does not receive the No. 2 slot “is a situation we’re very concerned about and we take it very seriously,” she said.

The meeting will come after Dukakis speaks at 1 p.m. to the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees’ convention at the Convention Center.

Staff writer Cathleen Decker in Washington contributed to this story.