Bush Says Sullivan Shares Abortion View : Conservatives Soften Their Stand on Appointment

President Bush voiced firm support today for Health and Human Services Secretary-designate Dr. Louis W. Sullivan, saying Sullivan fully supports Bush’s opposition to abortion, while a group of Senate conservatives softened their stand on the appointment.

In an interview with a small group of reporters in the Oval Office, Bush replied “none” when asked whether he foresaw any circumstances in which he would withdraw Sullivan’s nomination.

Bush took issue with reports that Sullivan disagrees with the President’s position advocating a reversal by the Supreme Court of its landmark 1973 decision legalizing abortion.

Bush Tells of Unanimity

“He has supported my position 100%,” the President said. “I’ve not heard anyone suggesting that he will not be confirmed. I haven’t heard one single person suggest that.”

Meanwhile, Sullivan met with a group of Republican senators in the office of Minority Leader Bob Dole (R-Kan.) and said, “I found them to be very supportive.”

Sullivan was asked by reporters if he favored overturning Roe vs. Wade. He responded only by saying, “Once the hearings go forward everything will be cleared.”

“He sort of gave us a preview of it and if he says what he said . . . his preview was satisfactory,” said Sen. Jesse Helms (R-N.C.).

Sen. Alan K. Simpson (R-Wyo.) said of Sullivan, “He was never in favor of retaining Roe vs. Wade.”

Humphrey Convinced

Sen. Gordon J. Humphrey (R-N.H.), a leading opponent of abortion, said that on the basis of his questioning of Sullivan at the meeting he is convinced that “Sullivan believes in his heart that the Roe vs. Wade decision should be overturned.”

Earlier, Humphrey had said he was concerned that some senators who met with Sullivan in advance of his confirmation hearing next week reported the nominee personally supported the Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion.

Asked after the meeting with Sullivan if he had any reservations about the secretary-designate, Humphrey said, “Not in my mind on the basis of this meeting.”

On Tuesday, Humphrey said he saw little likelihood the Sullivan nomination would be blocked.

“Let’s put it plainly: Dr. Sullivan is the only black nominee to the Cabinet. It would be an embarrassment to the President, an embarrassment to the Republican Party, if the nomination encountered any trouble and we don’t want that,” Humphrey said then.

Bush, in a bid to placate anti-abortion groups, will name Constance Horner as undersecretary of HHS, an Administration source said today.