Assails White House : Regard for Law Missing at Top, Dukakis Says

Gov. Michael S. Dukakis used his Fourth of July speech here to accuse the Reagan-Bush Administration of not respecting the rule of law and to urge Americans not to be complacent as the presidential election approaches.

“A strong America is true to American values,” Dukakis, the expected Democratic nominee, told about 200 people gathered at the frigate Constitution, which is docked permanently here.

“Because isn’t that what the Fourth of July is all about?” Dukakis said. “Isn’t it not only the ship, but the name of the ship that makes us so proud to have the USS Constitution here in Charlestown?

“Respect for the Constitution and for the rule of law is the most basic, the most conservative, the most important principle of our democratic society.

Defense Contract Probe

“And it must begin at the top--in the White House, in the Defense Department and in the office of the attorney general of the United States,” he said, referring to the Iran-Contra scandal, Pentagon procurement irregularities and questions about whether Atty. Gen. Edwin Meese III, one of President Reagan’s closest advisers, used his influence to help the Wedtech Corp. get government business.

“My friends,” Dukakis said, “there’s nothing strong about conducting failed and illegal policies in Central America. . . . There’s nothing strong about selling arms to terrorists. . . . There’s nothing strong about doing business with a drug-running Panamanian dictator who’s suspected of murder.”

Dukakis also had a response to Vice President George Bush, the expected GOP nominee, who warned recently that, although some people “yearn for change” in this election year, “liberals” such as Dukakis “promise compassion but . . . deliver misery.”

‘We Must Move Forward’

Dukakis countered Monday: “There are those who believe that America can afford to stand still. I say we must move forward. There are those who say we should be careful. I say we must be bold.

“There are those who would like us to sit around and think things over and maybe do a little fishing. I say that America is ready to take off like a firecracker on the Fourth of July.

“We must have a strategy for building a future of full employment and economic opportunity. . . . We must have a plan for building a stronger and more stable peace and we must elect a leader who will restore respect for our laws, our Constitution and our basic values to the highest offices in this land.”

Monday night, Dukakis and his wife, Kitty, had dinner in their home in Brookline with the Rev. Jesse Jackson and his wife, Jacqueline.

On arrival in Boston, Jackson quipped to reporters: “The one question that we have answered that has been asked for a long period of time is: Guess who’s coming to dinner? So, now we know who is coming to dinner--Jesse and Jackie with Kitty and Mike.”

‘New England Dinner’

The meal, prepared by a cook hired for the occasion, included clam chowder, fish and vegetables--a “New England dinner,” the Dukakis campaign staff said.

Shortly before leaving Chicago for Boston, Jackson had described his relationship with Dukakis as “both professional and personal.”

“We keep communicating and increasing our sense of personal security, one with the other,” Jackson said. He said there are a “whole range of matters to be resolved but we are approaching it in the right way. That is through direct communications.” Among those issues, he said, are the presidential ticket, the makeup of the Democratic National Committee and staffing for the fall campaign.

After the dinner, the Dukakises and Jacksons attended the traditional July Fourth music and fireworks show on the Charles River put on by the Boston Pops Orchestra.

When the Jacksons arrived at the Dukakis home, they were greeted by the governor and his wife--and by about 150 Brookline residents waiting across the street. With Jackson leading, the four went over to chat with the crowd before entering the house for dinner.

Afterward, as the two couples were leaving for the concert, reporters asked if Dukakis and Jackson had discussed the vice presidency. Jackson responded: “No comment.” And Dukakis said: “We talked about lots of things.”

Staff writer Karen Tumulty contributed to this story.