From Washington Straight: Reagan’s Social Mission

The President’s entanglement with the tax bill may have one semi-redeeming effect: the conservative social agenda may be advanced. So much ire was provoked by Mr. Reagan’s tax action that the President now feels impelled to try to heal the breach with his right-wing populist constituency by exerting himself on those conservative social issues he so eloquently enumerated in early August before the Knights of Columbus at their hundredth anniversary in Hartford. Ranked by 150 bishops and ten cardinals, bedecked in their fuchsia zucchettos and braid, the President deplored double taxation of parents who send their children to private/ parochial schools, lamented the national tragedy of abortion-on-demand, called for a school-prayer amendment, and denounced forced busing.

At the outset of his Administration, Mr. Reagan started the engine of social conservatism, throttled the train forward a little, then jumped onto the budget- and-tax express on another track, leaving revolution number one idling. Now, fresh impetus is being put into social legislative action through congressional and court initiatives.

JM

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John McLaughlin

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The President’s entanglement with the tax bill may have one semi-redeeming effect: the conservative social agenda may be advanced. So much ire was provoked by Mr. Reagan’s tax action that the President now feels impelled to try to heal the breach with his right-wing populist constituency by exerting himself on those conservative social issues he so eloquently enumerated in early August before the Knights of Columbus at their hundredth anniversary in Hartford. Ranked by 150 bishops and ten cardinals, bedecked in their fuchsia zucchettos and braid, the President deplored double taxation of parents who send their children to private/ parochial schools, lamented the national tragedy of abortion-on-demand, called for a school-prayer amendment, and denounced forced busing.

At the outset of his Administration, Mr. Reagan started the engine of social conservatism, throttled the train forward a little, then jumped onto the budget- and-tax express on another track, leaving revolution number one idling. Now, fresh impetus is being put into social legislative action through congressional and court initiatives.