Bush, Dukakis Meet, Vow to Work Together

President-elect George Bush met vanquished Democratic candidate Michael S. Dukakis today, and the two declared that they will try to work together in the future, although the bitterness of the campaign has not yet completely disappeared.

And Dukakis, while promising to play “a constructive role” when Bush addresses such issues as the deficit, homelessness and health care, refused to grade the President-elect’s performance to date.

“I think the vice president is eager to learn and listen and reach out and I think that’s a good thing,” Dukakis said.

But, he said, “we’ve got to wait a little while to start grading anyone.”

The one-time rivals met for just a little more than half an hour in a meeting Bush characterized as “a good discussion of the issues that are facing this country . . . in a spirit of good will.” The meeting capped an ongoing round of meetings Bush has had with supporters and opponents since his Nov. 8 election in an effort to build good will and national unity. Earlier in the day he met with television evangelist Pat Robertson, whom he bested in the Republican primaries.

‘Looking Ahead Now’

Dukakis said the bitter tone of the campaign, in which Bush challenged his patriotism over the Pledge of Allegiance and his liberalism, did not come up.

“No, we didn’t” talk about the tone of the campaign, Dukakis said. “We’re looking ahead now.”

However, still showing some bitterness from the rough edges of the race for the White House, he noted, “We can all draw our conclusions about the campaign.”

Bush said he was “very, very grateful” to Dukakis for meeting with him.

“I am very grateful to him for the spirit of this visit,” Bush added. “I happen to think this is in the best tradition of American politics.”

South Africa Message

As Bush left to let Dukakis make his own statement to reporters and answer questions, he told Dukakis, “God bless you and have a great Christmas.”

Robertson, speaking outside the White House after his meeting with Bush, said he delivered a “private message” to the President-elect from South Africa’s foreign minister. He would add only that it dealt with the “Angola situation and the Cuban withdrawal.”

The message apparently centered on recent South African acceptance of a U.S.-mediated plan under which Cuba has agreed to withdraw its 50,000 troops from Angola in 30 months while South Africa gives up control of Namibia.