O’Neill Blasts Reagan Tactics in Campaign

WASHINGTON —  Retiring House Speaker Thomas P. (Tip) O’Neill Jr. today said President Reagan’s campaign attacks on congressional Democrats abuse the bipartisan cooperation Reagan sought on Capitol Hill.

O’Neill (D-Mass.) called a news conference to challenge Reagan’s tactics during his recent cross-country drive to win votes for Republican candidates.

O’Neill, 73, noted today that this is the first time in half a century his name is not on an election ballot. “Yet, when the President was in Wisconsin last week he acted like I was on the ballot again,” he said.

In a Wisconsin speech, Reagan quoted O’Neill as saying he wanted the American taxpayers “to pay through the nose.” O’Neill’s office accused the President of altering the quote, which originally said the Administration should pay dearly for its arms buildup.