Dukakis Agrees to Campaign Roles for Jackson, Aides

Massachusetts Gov. Michael S. Dukakis and the Rev. Jesse Jackson, meeting face to face in an effort to avoid conflict just hours before the 1988 Democratic National Convention opened, vowed Monday to work together for a victory in November and worked out a package of agreements that includes major roles for Jackson and his aides in the Dukakis presidential campaign.

The two leaders, appearing at a joint press conference, contended they struck no deal, but they endorsed an agreement worked out by their chief aides that involves concessions by Dukakis to Jackson’s demands for involvement in both the fall campaign and in the Democratic Party structure.

Because all of the concessions were on such “insider” issues, rather than on substantive positions, Dukakis can contend that he has won the support of Jackson and his followers without making compromises on issues that might alienate conservative voters whom Dukakis needs to win against Vice President George Bush in November.

For his part, Jackson, who had perturbed Dukakis by holding open the possibility he might challengeSen. Lloyd Bentsen of Texas, Dukakis’ choice as a vice presidential running mate, said that “we have no plans to submit my name in nomination” for the No. 2 spot. Moreover, he said there would be “no encouragement of anyone to do it.”

The long-awaited meeting between the two rivals allowed the 40th Democratic convention to be gaveled to order on a strong note of unity, which party leaders openly craved.

As the delegates crowded into the Omni convention hall with its huge made-for-television podium, party Chairman Paul G. Kirk Jr. said the meeting allowed the convention to begin “in high spirits and with a unique sense of common purpose and unity. This week the Democratic Party will forge the most powerful coalition in recent political history.”

‘Creatively Resolved’

Keynote speaker Ann Richards proclaimed that “there’s nothing wrong with you that you can’t fix in November.” And former President Jimmy Carter, himself the victim of a fractious convention in 1980, ended the evening noting that “because we are so inclusive, many of the conflicts of American life are fought--and creatively resolved--within our ranks.”

The delegates, jammed into the undersized hall and facing gridlock on the floor, nevertheless were in high spirits, waving blue Dukakis and red Jackson placards whenever the music played, and roaring their appreciation of the partisan remarks of Richards and Carter.

They applauded a stream of speeches from party and elected officials and were entertained by choirs, bands and celebrities Ed Begley Jr., Ally Sheedy and Garrison Keillor reading letters from grade-school pupils on the theme of “If I Were President.”

At the press conference, Dukakis spoke expansively about Jackson, whom he described as “a great leader,” and declared: “I want Jesse Jackson to play a major role in this campaign. I want his supporters, who are out there by the millions, to be deeply involved in this campaign. They are going to be an essential part of the coalition we build coming out of this convention to win a Democratic victory in November.”

Jackson, although not specifically endorsing the Dukakis candidacy or even conceding the presidential nomination, said they had had a “fruitful meeting” and added:

“We’re now on a track that will lead to expanded involvement, more excitement and great motivation to build a team that will carry us to victory, and will spare the people of the agony, abandonment and neglect they felt these last seven years.”

Will Be ‘Disciplined’

And in another move designed to head off dissension at the convention, Jackson several times declared that his delegates will be “disciplined” when they argue against several planks they oppose that were approved by the platform committee.

The two leaders’ 2 1/2-hour meeting in the Massachusetts governor’s 22nd-floor hotel suite here eased tensions between the two campaigns considerably and left both Dukakis and Jackson, as well as Bentsen, talking enthusiastically about a unified Democratic Party marching to victory in the fall. Bentsen joined the meeting in its last half-hour.

The meeting, which Jackson had demanded to clarify his relationship with Dukakis, was widely hailed as a unifying force by delegates as diverse as California Assemblywoman Maxine Waters of Watts and House Speaker Jim Wright of Texas.

‘Very Strong Message’

Waters, a hard-liner in the Jackson camp who had criticized Dukakis for not informing Jackson in advance of his announcement that he had selected Bentsen as his running mate, said she was “very encouraged” about the meeting and the leaders’ press conference afterward. Dukakis, she said, sent “a very strong message” by standing with Jackson in front of the television cameras and making a commitment about Jackson’s role in the campaign.

Wright said: “I think the healing process has begun. It will be a love-in before it’s over. It just takes us a little while.”

Their agreement, as described by Dukakis campaign chairman Paul P. Brountas and Jackson convention manager Ron Brown, who attended the meeting between the two candidates, covers four areas:

--The Dukakis campaign will hire Jackson campaign workers “at all levels” to fill spots in the general election campaign. Jackson staff members will be hired to run the Dukakis campaign organization in perhaps as many as 15 states. The ultimate decision-making, however, remains, at least for now, in the hands of Dukakis’ top aides: Brountas, campaign manager Susan Estrich and her two deputies, Jack Corrigan and Kirk O’Donnell.

--The campaign and the Democratic Party will provide Jackson with an airplane and campaign staff for the fall campaign, although the exact budget for the operation has not yet been worked out.

--The Democratic National Committee, the party’s central but largely ceremonial decision-making body, will be expanded to bring in additional Jackson supporters, including a new vice chairman in charge of voter registration drives. Jackson supporters will also be added to the party’s executive committee and its standing committees.

--Dukakis will “emphasize” during the fall campaign several issues that were of concern to Jackson. Significantly, however, all of the issues are ones Dukakis has endorsed in the past, such as legislation to provide workers notice of plant closings or layoffs, easing of voter registration requirements, sanctions against South Africa, affirmative action in the federal government’s purchasing of goods and services, expanded federal aid for day care and statehood for the District of Columbia.

Negotiating Team

After an initial meeting between Brountas and Brown to discuss the candidates’ differences, an expanded negotiating team of seven--three Dukakis aides and four Jackson aides--met Saturday night and again Sunday afternoon to hammer out the final agreement.

Brountas, Estrich and Dukakis campaign secretary Joe Warren, Dukakis’ senior black adviser, represented the governor. Brown, Waters and former New Mexico Gov. Toney Anaya attended both meetings representing Jackson. In addition, California Assembly Speaker Willie Brown and Rep. Charles B. Rangel of New York each attended one meeting as part of Jackson’s team.

Apparently there was no agreement to endorse any of Jackson’s positions in areas where the two men have been seriously at odds--Jackson’s call for a freeze in military spending, his advocacy of higher taxes for higher income taxpayers, his call for Palestinian statehood in the Middle East and his declaration that the United States should commit itself to a policy of “no first use” of nuclear weapons.

Jackson forces have pressed for planks on all of those issues and have vowed to mount floor fights on them when the party platform is presented tonight before Jackson addresses the convention.

Accord Reached

But in meetings Monday night between Dukakis platform representative Michael Barnes and Jackson representative Eleanor Holmes Norton, the Jackson forces agreed not to ask for a vote on either the defense or the Middle East issues.

Jackson will drop his position calling for “self-determination” of the Palestinians. Instead, he will be introduced to the convention by James Zogby, an Arab-American adviser to the candidate, who will use the speech to discuss the importance of a Palestinian homeland, according to Dukakis spokesman Mark Gearan.

The platform negotiators scheduled another meeting for early today in an attempt to resolve the final two issues of taxes and no “first use” of nuclear weapons.

At a noon meeting of Dukakis’ senior staff, Estrich directed staff members to begin discussions with Jackson aides about jobs in the fall campaign.

Already the two sides have agreed that Hulbert James, who ran Jackson’s campaign effort in New York, will serve as co-chairman of the Dukakis campaign there, serving with Al Gordon, who earlier had been named Dukakis’ chief staff member in New York.

The process of bringing Jackson staff members into the campaign will continue throughout the convention week, and all the state chairmen will have been chosen by the time the Democrats leave Atlanta on Friday, according to Dukakis campaign field director Charles Baker.

Effusive Praise

At the press conference, Dukakis spoke in generally vague terms about what had been agreed upon, but he was effusive in his praise of Jackson, introducing him with “great pride” as “a man who I have come to know, and like, and respect, because we’ve campaigned together, up and down this country, a great leader, an inspirational leader, who has inspired millions and millions of people to become a part of American politics, and we hope, beginning in January, a part of American government.”

Jackson thanked Dukakis, never mentioning him by name again in long introductory remarks, but said they had discussed “matters of serious and significant concern, a relationship of substance, support and candor, the commitment to help build a team that will expand our party and carry us to victory in November.”

Their discussion involved expanded roles and participation in the Democratic National Committee at the state and national levels, Jackson said, and also legislation “that will make a difference.”

Jackson went directly from the joint press conference to a boisterous meeting with his 1,300 delegates in a sweltering hotel ballroom, but he took his time before telling them how he spent his morning and provided no details.

‘Debate Is Healthy’

“Today we’ve had a great meeting with Gov. Dukakis and Sen. Bentsen,” he said, “a serious meeting. But, my friends, in that meeting there was the good judgment that debate is healthy for democracy. And we reserved the right to use the rules of our convention and to take our planks and platforms seriously.”

The delegates responded with healthy applause, but with a deafening roar a moment later when he merely mentioned in passing that, “Wednesday, my name will go into nomination” for President.

Indeed, Jackson acted in large part as if the unity meeting had never taken place. There were no threats of disruption, but neither was there any praise for Dukakis. Instead, Jackson exhorted his delegates to remain disciplined in their support for issues that had mobilized them.

Dukakis and Jackson both later spoke briefly about party unity at a luncheon of about 200 former senior Democratic Administration officials at the Carter Presidential Center, but neither mentioned the other in their remarks.

Afterward, former Democratic National Chairman John C. White, who has been advising Jackson, said: “I would have felt better if they had at least recognized each other.”

Close Communications

White said that while it is possible that tension could resurface between the two leaders, they agreed in their meeting to keep in close communication and to contact each other if any problems develop.

“I feel good about the meeting and I know Jesse does,” said White.

Dukakis, when leaving the luncheon with his wife, Kitty, smiled and shook hands with Jackson and clasped his shoulder.

Despite all the talk of unity, there were skeptics among the delegates.

“There are still major issues to be resolved,” said Barry Feinstein, president of the largest Teamsters local in New York. He said that while he thinks the issues will be resolved, Jackson “retains all his rights.”

Holden Cautious

And Los Angeles City Councilman Nate Holden, a Jackson delegate, said: “We have to see if the Dukakis people have really embraced what we’ve been asking for. When you show the lack of integrity they have shown so far, the question is, can we trust them? Are they people to keep a commitment?”

But later, as the convention began at the Omni, it was hard to find delegates who did not praise the meeting as the key to a possible Democratic victory in November.

“The 11th hour came in the 10th hour,” said Vernon Watkins, president of the Southern California district council of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees and a Jackson delegate.

Staff writers Bob Drogin, David Lauter, Douglas Jehl, Henry Weinstein and Ron Harris contributed to this story.