Support for Reaga n

Story by Paul Stoitzfus

In aspeech tonearly 6,000LBCstudents, faculty andguests onApril 13,Vice President George Bush voiced hissupportfor President Reagan's administration andpolicies

Bush dealt mainly with Reagan's peace through strength policy, calling itthe "great challenge weface" inthedecadeof the80s.

"Our program of peace recognizesthe need of deterrence," Bush said. "Letme assure you that in President Reagan we have aPresident who iswilling togo to the peace table."

The Vice President further praised the President's recent European trip which he said helped our NATO allies understand our deterrence policy

"In littlemore than two years,the President hasre-established theconfidence of our allies inAmerica's ability toleadthe Western alliance," Bush said

During a ten-minute question and answer session attheendofBush's speech, one student asked ifthe peace through strength policy would change with the next administration ifReagan didnot run again in 1984

Bush stressed that he felt the policy would notshift because the next administration would notchange

"I think thePresident will runagain in '84 andI hope that hegets re-elected if he does," Bush said "Theelection will be determined tosome extent through weapons but the main thing that will determine it isthe economy itself

"The President will ask the people of this nation ifthey are better off," Bush added, "and they will answer with a resounding, 'Yes!'

Prior tohisvisit,Bush's support for the

President was questioned by the Liberty chapter ofYoung Americans for Freedom Inapress release,theYAFchapter said Bush was not committed to the Reagan revolution

YAF Chairman John Pyle said, "We're honored to have Bush visit here, butwe want tovoice ouropposition tohis stand on certain views."YAFmembers provided literature outlining their objections during YAF Emphasis Week, April 11-15, which coincided with Bush's visit According to Pyle, YAF Emphasis Week had been scheduled since thebeginning oftheyear

Several YAF members asked questions at the endof the Vice President's speech. Their questions dealt mainly with social spending, taxsupport ofleftwing organizations, a flat taxand the ERA.

Concerning the ERA, Bush said, "Isupported the ERA before, butinmy opinion it'snecessary to eliminate inequities with-

out the ERA."

Bush's comments clearly wonthefavor of themajority of thecrowd; hisspeech was interrupted 12times by applause

Just before Bush departed,Dr JerryFalwell presented him with an LBC necktie which hepromptly putontothedelightof the crowd He praised Dr Falwell for his ministry and his influences for thegood

Bush said, "LBCoffers an appreciation of the Judeo-Christian ethic on whichthe freedoms ofthis country arebased.

"History teaches that liberty andfreedom cannot be taken forgranted," Bush said "Deterrence translates this fundamental truth into a policy which will maintain peace ina nuclear age."