Helms’ Name Makes Liberals ‘Break Out in Rash’--Reagan : Stumps for GOP Candidates Before Leaving for Iceland

RALEIGH, N.C. —  President Reagan, hitting all the right buttons on a pre-summit political foray into North Carolina, today talked up tobacco, textiles and taxes and praised senior Sen. Jesse Helms as “an individual whose very name causes liberals to break out in a nervous rash, a friend of mine, and a champion of our cause.”

Campaigning for Sen. James T. Broyhill here, Reagan also called Broyhill’s opponent, former Gov. Terry Sanford, “a willing accomplice” in what he said was a Democratic plan to raise taxes.

Reagan departed from his speech text to say of Sanford: “He was raising taxes back when I was still making movies. And when it comes to reruns, ‘Bedtime for Bonzo’ is better than ‘Tax Time with Terry.’ ” Reagan starred with a chimpanzee in “Bonzo.”

In this textile and tobacco state, Reagan also mentioned recent trade actions that resulted in a 50% cutback in imports of Japanese polyesters and Japan’s dropping of its tariff on American cigarettes.

Campaigns for Mattingly

In his last political foray before leaving for Iceland, Reagan flew to Atlanta later in the day to campaign for Sen. Mack Mattingly.

Both senators skipped the rallies, staying behind in Washington as the Senate struggled toward adjournment.

In Raleigh, the President appealed to all Americans to drop their partisanship “at the water’s edge” and support him in his summit meeting with Soviet leader Mikhail S. Gorbachev.

“I won’t be seeing Republicans or Democrats, just Americans,” Reagan said. “So I hope I can count on your hopes and prayers in the days ahead.

“I’m particularly grateful for the way we as a free people pull together” during summits, he said.

Invokes Cold Warrior

Reagan invoked the name of Sen. Arthur Vandenberg, the Cold War GOP Senate foreign relations leader, by saying: “I think the best policy is America’s time-tested tradition of leaving politics at the water’s edge. It’s great to know that when I look over my shoulder that the folks back home are with me.”

In addition to asking for his audience’s “support and prayers” as he flies to Iceland on Thursday morning, Reagan asked a “personal favor”--the election of Broyhill to a full term in what he said is “a make-or-break election” that will decide whether Republicans keep control of the Senate.

If Democrats regain control for the first time in six years, Reagan said, leadership of the Judiciary Committee “will be turned over to Teddy Kennedy (D-Mass.) and Joe Biden (D-Del.). You can strike a blow against the drugs, thugs and hoodlums by casting your vote for Jim.”

Both candidates are ahead in the polls, White House spokesman Larry Speakes said, but Reagan’s presence was sought to help them stay on top.

The President was working to mollify conservative critics of his suddenly scheduled summit with Gorbachev. The critics were afraid he would be enticed into an unfavorable arms deal and play down Soviet human rights violations and the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan.