Republican Party averts Armageddon

SAN DIEGO Just when it seemed that the pro-life movement and BobDole's campaign had settled their differences on abortion Monday, theRepublican presidential candidate himself nearly prevented unity atnext week's Republican National Convention.

Dole had been in Chicago, revealing his long-awaited taxprogram, which his strategists hoped would eclipse news coverage ofthe abortion dispute. When he arrived back in Washington, Dole wastold that the Republican platform committee had eliminated the word"abortion" from language recognizing "diversity" of GOP opinion. Noton your life, shot back Dole. He insisted that the "A" word berestored.

For the next two hours, key advisers in a secured room at theSan Diego Civic Center were on a transcontinental call to Dole in hisWashington campaign headquarters. Convention manager Paul Manafortand policy co-chairman Vin Weber told Dole that while they surelycould prevail over pro-life forces, it would trigger GOP Armageddonon the convention floor next Monday and poison his campaign.Finally, Dole agreed.

But when Dole read Tuesday morning newspapers reporting that hisaides had abandoned the concept of "tolerance" in the platform, heangrily told them to undo the deal. Reflecting the candidate's ire,Manafort pressed that position. By afternoon he was convinced thatreneging on the agreement with the pro-lifers would be fatal.

All this reflects the continuing tension between Dole and hisparty's conservative base. Although Dole won the delegates, theyconstitute probably the most conservative convention ever. Abortionaside, they are approving the most conservative platform in theparty's history.

But Dole, following the posthumous advice of his politicalmentor, Richard M. Nixon, is still trying to move left. Even keyaides believe the convention's Dole-selected array of speakers doesnot represent the party base. This week, Dole continued to attemptthe unnatural act of making a pro-life abortion plank appeal topro-choice Republicans.

His campaign staff in early June devised the ingenious formulaof keeping the platform's pro-life plank but asserting "tolerance"for contrary views on all topics. Dole, desperate to give a littlesomething to pro-choice Republicans, a month later spoiled thissolution by insisting that the "tolerance" language clearly apply toabortion.

Two months of negotiations finally produced what Dole forcesthought was a deal when the platform committee assembled here for thefirst time last Sunday night. Language obnoxious to pro-lifers -referring to abortion as a matter of "individual conscience" - wasremoved. Abortion was still specifically listed, along with capitalpunishment, trade and term limits.

So, after a pleasant reception Sunday night for platformcommittee members, Chairman Henry Hyde was stunned by what transpiredat a private dinner hosted by conservative activist Phyllis Schlafly.Hyde, who as a veteran Illinois congressman has led the fight againstabortion, was told by pro-life leaders that they could not toleratethe present form of the platform.

Hyde was ready to give in. The word "tolerance" - which pleasednobody - was removed, substituting that "we view this diversity ofviews as a source of strength." Mention of abortion and other issueswas eliminated.

But Dole agents wanted to keep the "diversity" caveat in thesection of the platform covering abortion. That created a flirtationwith disaster, threatening that the issue would be fought out on theconvention floor.

Weber, a former congressman from Minnesota who has been astaunch foe of abortion, sat down for a heart-to-heart talk withSchlafly. If the pro-lifers forced a floor fight, they would get nomore than 25 percent of the votes. Not only would Dole and theRepublican Party be damaged badly, but the anti-abortion movementwould be condemned henceforth to the sectarian status of theVegetarian Party.

Schlafly was convinced and brought along her allies - includingBay Buchanan, presidential campaign chairman for her brother Pat.Kay James, a distinguished social conservative barred by Manafortfrom heading the subcommittee that handles abortion, helped forge thedeal.

It remained for Dole to give his assent during those tense hoursover the telephone. That left pro-choice Republicans fuming whenManafort described them as happy over the outcome.

"What do I have to be happy about?" asked Elsie Hillman,Pennsylvania Republican National Committee member and abortion rightsadvocate on the subcommittee. True, but Bob Dole had dodgeddisastrous confrontation with his party's base.

Robert Novak is a nationally syndicated columnist of the ChicagoSun-Times.