Bush to Reappoint Rowny as Adviser for Arms Talks

With an eye to the Republican right wing, President Bush has decided to reappoint retired Lt. Gen. Edward L. Rowny, 72, as special adviser on arms control issues, Administration officials said Wednesday.

The appointment of the hard-line Rowny, who has strong ties to conservative Republicans and the Pentagon, was viewed primarily as an effort to ensure that he will support the strategic arms reduction (START) agreement with the Soviets that is being negotiated.

In contrast, the Administration pushed out Paul H. Nitze, 82, the other special arms adviser, who was closely identified with the Ronald Reagan Administration’s approach to Soviet affairs. Nitze was far more influential than Rowny with former Secretary of State George P. Shultz.

Secretary of State James A. Baker III has largely eased out personnel associated with Reagan policies, in part, because Bush intends to take a more cautious approach to Moscow and, in part, because the new Administration wants to put its own imprimatur on foreign policy.

Baker, who has emphasized the need to negotiate a “ratifiable” START treaty with Moscow, is also aware of conservative charges that Shultz was “captured” by State Department professionals and helped persuade Reagan to soften his attitude toward the Kremlin.

Baker offered Nitze a vague post as “ambassador emeritus,” with “time for other activities,” but Nitze opted to resign. He is now expected to take a position with Johns Hopkins University.

Rowny, who was named to the advisory post by Reagan in 1982, was born in Baltimore to Polish immigrants. His father was raised in a part of Poland ruled by Russia, and he was forced to learn Russian.

Rowny, who was graduated from West Point in 1941, rose through Army ranks until 1973 when he was named as the Joint Chiefs of Staff representative on the U.S. delegation to the strategic arms talks.