1988 DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION : Reagan to Focus on Legislative Issues, Contra Aid

The Reagan Administration, turning the corner on its final six months in office, will focus on several short-term legislative issues while pressing ahead with efforts to obtain additional assistance for Nicaragua’s Contras, the White House chief of staff said Thursday.

After a 3 1/2-hour meeting for which 15 key Reagan advisers, including the White House senior staff, assembled in Santa Barbara, staff chief Kenneth M. Duberstein said a “get-things-done” strategy had been devised for the remaining half year. Reagan’s term ends six months from Wednesday.

The meeting also touched on Reagan’s role in Vice President George Bush’s campaign for the presidency.

Baker’s Departure Seen

Treasury Secretary James A. Baker III, a close friend of Bush, was said by Duberstein to be planning to fly back to Washington with Reagan on Sunday, after the Cabinet officer takes part in several West Coast political events. Baker is said by officials and others close to him to be planning to leave his post shortly before the Republican National Convention to take a key role in the Bush campaign.

Duberstein said the staff meeting here was called to determine “where the President should spend his chips, where we recommend the President use his energies to make sure we put a fitting cap on the Reagan presidency six months from now.”

As a result, the President is likely to focus on a relative handful of issues: Senate ratification of the U.S.-Canada trade agreement, drought assistance for the struggling Farm Belt, a fair-housing bill and welfare reform.

On the foreign policy front, the White House is looking at a package of assistance for the rebels seeking to overthrow the Sandinista government of Nicaragua. It has been supported by Senate Minority Leader Bob Dole (R-Kan.) and has generally won Administration favor.

Duberstein said the staff recommended going “forward on a strong, meaningful bipartisan package on Contra aid.”

The $47-million Dole proposal includes $20 million in lethal military aid but would require a second vote of Congress to release the money after the President certified that the Nicaraguan peace process had reached a dead end.

“We will be working with the Congress to make sure that we can get as much as possible,” Duberstein told reporters, adding that the topic will be raised next week when Reagan, back at the White House, meets with Republican congressional leaders.