Administration Ties With Congress Improve: Powell

President Reagan’s national security adviser said today that the Administration has improved its relations with Congress in the aftermath of “the aberration of Iran-Contra.”

In an address to the Los Angeles World Affairs Council, however, Lt. Gen. Colin D. Powell said he hopes that Congress will not be “tempted to try to limit presidential power.”

Powell said “divided, shared and countervailing powers are the hallmarks of our system--by design of the founding fathers. Weakening the presidency also weakens the country.”

The national security adviser did not say specifically what improvements had been brought about in Administration dealings with Congress on foreign affairs issues, nor did he touch on the ongoing dispute with some lawmakers over Reagan’s failure to invoke provisions of the War Powers Act giving Capitol Hill a say in the use of U.S. military force in the Persian Gulf.

Powell did say that the executive branch “has an obligation to keep its own house in order. There must be an adherence to law and to the Constitution, and a willingness to consult and deal openly and respectfully with the Congress, taking legislative leaders into its confidence on the most sensitive matters.”

“I believe this Administration, after the aberration of Iran-Contra, has re-established and enjoys such a coherent and cooperative process internally,” Powell said.