Dukakis Calls for Use of Economic Leverage on Soviets

Democratic presidential nominee Michael S. Dukakis on Tuesday advocated an aggressive approach to U.S. relations with the Soviet Union, emphasizing the need to use economic incentives as well as military might to “improve Soviet behavior in world affairs.”

In a speech that aides said defined Dukakis’ strategy for superpower relations, the candidate presented a centrist view of the Soviet threat and offered no major departure from current U.S. policy.

But Dukakis stressed that the United States can take advantage of serious Soviet economic problems and new Soviet leadership to press for reductions in Warsaw Pact forces in Europe, to end nuclear proliferation, to reduce terrorism, to bring respect for human rights and to ease repression in Eastern Europe.

Rides in Battle Tank

To provide a fitting TV backdrop, Dukakis later donned a jumpsuit and roared around a grassy field outside Detroit in an M1A1 Abrams battle tank. Perched in the gunner’s hatch, he grinned under a huge helmet, his hands on a 7.62-millimeter machine gun.

With a General Dynamics technician at the controls, the 63-ton tank suddenly lurched into high speed and aimed toward a line of reporters. It cornered at the last second, spraying a cloud of dirt, but the giant 120-millimeter cannon barrel swung low as it turned and nearly decapitated a cluster of TV cameramen.

Back in his suit, and on a flag-draped stage flanked by six more tanks, Dukakis appeared pleased by his mock assault on the national press. “What did you think?” he asked. “Did I look like I belonged up there?” Delighted aides played the theme from the film “Patton” when the rally ended.

Dukakis’ test drive of the nation’s most advanced tank reinforced a series of strong speeches this week aimed at bolstering his credentials on defense and foreign policy issues, and at regaining his campaign’s momentum.

In his Chicago speech, titled “Seizing the Initiative,” to the Chicago Council on Foreign Relations, Dukakis argued that the United States should “meet the challenges” presented by Soviet leader Mikhail S. Gorbachev.

“Yes, it would be naive to take Gorbachev at his word,” the Massachusetts governor said. “But it would be dangerous to allow his words to go unanswered and untested in the court of public opinion around the globe.”

He said the United States should take advantage of Gorbachev’s attempts to increase trade, join international economic institutions and gain access to Western resources and technology.

“What is he prepared to do in return?” Dukakis asked. “Will we allow him to pursue that strategy unchallenged? Or will we have a strategy of our own to protect American interests and translate Soviet economic weakness into improved Soviet behavior in world affairs?”

Madeleine K. Albright, a Georgetown University professor who advises Dukakis on Soviet affairs, said the United States could gain leverage because the Soviets are seeking entry to the International Monetary Fund and the General Agreement on Tariff and Trade.

“The Soviet Union is in serious economic trouble,” she said. “If they want to be part of the international economic community, they have to behave.”

‘Won’t Do Them Any Favors’

Albright said Dukakis “has no illusions” about Soviet power or intentions. “He wants a realistic relationship, but he won’t do them any favors.”

Dukakis referred to Gorbachev as a “Leninist” but did not use the word “communist” in the speech.

Surprisingly, Dukakis included Eastern Europe when he called for pressing the Soviets to reduce regional conflicts. He said the Soviets “cannot ignore” their security concerns in the region.

“But free trade unions do not endanger security; political parties do not endanger security; free elections do not endanger security, and the right to worship God can be a threat to no civilized power,” he said. “Mr. Gorbachev must understand that in Eastern Europe it is the status quo that creates instability.”

Dukakis said his Republican opponents have no strategy for testing the so-called new thinking of current Soviet leaders.

“They are content to leave the initiative on arms control and regional disputes and the spread of advanced weapons systems around the world to Mr. Gorbachev,” he said. “We are not.

“They want to turn back the clock, to suggest that nothing has changed, to pretend that Soviet leadership today is as tired and as paralyzed and as heavy-handed as it was only a half-dozen years ago. President Reagan understands the dangers of that course and so do I.”

Political Paradox

His praise of Reagan, who signed a treaty with the Soviets to eliminate medium-range missiles this spring, reflects a political paradox this year. Republicans who tend to use Cold War rhetoric regarding anti-Soviet fears have been largely defanged by Reagan’s rapprochement.

Democrats, on the other hand, have been forced to try to ally themselves with the conservative Republican President, who once denounced Russia as an “evil empire,” against Vice President George Bush. As a result, U.S.-Soviet relations have barely surfaced as a campaign issue.

Still, Dukakis used the issue to fuel doubts about the competence of Bush’s running mate, Indiana Sen. Dan Quayle.

“If he truly believes that J. Danforth Quayle is qualified to be one heartbeat away from the presidency, how can we trust his judgment when America’s future is on the line?” Dukakis said to laughter and cheers.

He noted that three recent vice presidents, who ascended to the Oval Office after the President had died or left office, later bargained with the Soviets.

‘He Sure Ain’t Harry Truman’

“Dan Quayle is no Gerald Ford,” he said. “He’s no Lyndon Johnson. And he sure ain’t Harry Truman. Can we stake our future on the hope that he is a match for Mikhail Gorbachev?”

Republicans, including President Reagan, have repeatedly assailed the Massachusetts governor for presenting what they describe as a naive view of international relations and a risky approach to U.S.-Soviet affairs. Polls have shown that voters are uncomfortable with Dukakis’ relative lack of experience in the international arena.

But James Steinberg, a Dukakis defense adviser, said Bush wants to develop and deploy the MX and Midgetman missile systems, “while the governor is suggesting there are other ways to improve relations.”

And Dayton Duncan, a campaign spokesman, professed to be delighted when informed that Quayle had told a crowd that Dukakis had lost his naval adviser, his “rubber duck.”

“Here we are talking about relations with the Soviets, and Quayle’s got rubber duckies on the mind,” Duncan said. “It hardly sounds very mature or presidential. It couldn’t make our point any better.”

Commercials on Crime, Taxes

In California, meanwhile, the Dukakis campaign went on the air Tuesday with two new television commercials, both directed at two subjects--crime and taxes.

In one ad, Dukakis is shown shaking the hands of policemen as a narrator says of the candidate: “In the last four years he’s put 20% more cops on the street and five times as many drug offenders behind bars.”

The other commercial says Dukakis cut taxes five times as Massachusetts governor and notes that he was once voted the most effective governor in the country by his fellow chief executives--Republican and Democrat.

Political writer Keith Love contributed to this story.