Retreating on Defense

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In January, Ronald Reagan called the idea "very risky." Three weeks ago, in a TV speech to the nation, he said it "would jeopardize our security." Early this month, he added the adjective "irresponsible." Even last week, when allies in Washington phoned White House aides in Lisbon, the last stop on Reagan's European tour, the President, in the doubtlessly understated words of one adviser, "wasn't thrilled about it."

But by then Reagan had no choice. If he still wanted sweeping cuts in civilian spending, he would have to swallow a budget resolution that included a provision for what he called "zero growth" for the military: no increase in Pen tagon outlays next year beyond what is necessary to keep up with infla tion. Nothing else could squeak through the Republican-controlled Senate--and even so, the vote scheduled on Thursday was going to be breathtakingly close. The President finally said yes, and Senate Majority Leader Robert Dole quickly spread the word. Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger, who had turned Reagan against accepting deep cuts in military spending many times before, phoned Lisbon to protest. Stories differed as to whether he got through to Reagan directly; in any case, he was too late. The President got on the transatlantic phone, according to some accounts, to call wavering Senators and urge them to accept the deal he had so long resisted.

He prevailed--but barely. Needing every vote, Republican leaders summoned California Senator Pete Wilson from Bethesda Naval Hospital, where he was recuperating from surgery to remove a ruptured appendix. Wilson arrived in an ambulance as the roll call was in progress at 1:30 a.m. Friday; hospital aides trundled him onto the Senate floor in a wheelchair, a needle and intravenous tube still inserted in his arm. Senators gave Wilson a standing ovation, which he turned to laughter by asking deadpan, "What is the question?" He voted yes on the budget resolution, but Hawaii Democrat Spark Matsunaga rushed in from his Senate office to vote no, and the tally was deadlocked at 49-49. Vice President George Bush was in the chair, however; he had cut short a Western speechmaking tour and rushed back from Phoenix Thursday morning. Bush cast the tie-breaking vote.

Majority Leader Dole uncorked some champagne bottles in his office at 4 a.m. to celebrate, and took a call from Reagan in Lisbon, where it was 10 a.m. "We know you're a little disappointed on defense," Dole told the President, "but we may have some adjustment later on." Senate Budget Committee Chairman Pete Domenici took the phone to promise Reagan that the final figure on military spending, after all congressional budget action is completed, would be "no lower than this number or we just won't have a budget."