New Congress Likely to Back Reagan

This is the second of two articles.

After only three days as president-elect, Ronald Reagan has begun to rumble about early congressional approval for "across-the-board" cuts in taxes and federal spending, a freeze on federal hiring, and specific reductions in the budget for fiscal year 1982.

And because of the Republicans' vast gains on Capitol Hill in Tuesday's elections, Reagan can expect a warm response to most of his plans. Before long, most Washington observers expect further proposals for increased military spending and tougher U.S. stands abroad.

In addition to achieving their first majority in the Senate since 1955 and narrowing the Democrat's House lead by a whopping 33 seats, the Republicans ousted prominent committee chairmen in both houses, many of whom will be replaced by veteran conservatives.

Sen. Barry Goldwater (R-Ariz.), for instance, will probably take over from defeated Sen. Birch Bayh (D-Ind.) on the Intelligence Committee, while Sen. Strom Thurmond (R-S.C.) will push Sen. Edward M. Kennedy '54 (D-Mass.) aside on the Judiciary Committee.

Although the Democrats remain in control of the House, they lost several prominant committee chairman there, and liberals fear that even those who remain may cooperate with their conservative colleagues in an effort to please the increasingly disgruntled public--which tossed President Carter from the White House on Tuesday.

Harvard officials worry that legislation affecting the University--bills that would increase grants for scientific research and aid to medical school students, as well as a measure designed to revamp federal patent procedures--may be ignored in the upcoming "lame duck" congressional session as Republicans wait for their new reinforcements to arrive and Democrats try to bandage their wounded.

Calling herself "reluctant to predict definitely," Jane Corlette of the office of government relations said yesterday she expects a Republican push in the Senate to adjourn the extended session after both houses approve the funds necessary to maintain federal operations through January.

Sen. Howard H. Baker (R-Tenn.), who will probably succeed Sen. Robert C. Byrd (D-W.Va.) as Senate majority leader, said yesterday he would oppose considering anything beyond "must" budget bills.

Corlette added, however, that if Congress stays in Washington to "deal with special circumstances like the hostage situation," it may also address legislation other than basic appropriations.

One measure congress may undertake if Byrd has his way is the Senate Finance Committee's more modest alternative to Reagan's 30-per-cent three-year tax-cut proposal.

House Speaker Thomas P. O'Neill Jr. (D-Mass.) said some Democratic representatives may want to push through pending Carter administration proposals in the post-election session, but he added that House members may want "to get out as quickly as we can."

Crutches

O'Neill and his fellow defenders of the now-crippled Capitol Hill Democratic machine will be searching, both in the coming weeks and after Reagan's inauguration, for a way to regain power.

Many, including John C. White, chairman of the Democratic National Committee, hinted that the Democrats will have to reevaluate many of their more liberal stands if they hope to compete with their opponents.

It is "far too early" to label the pervasive Republican victory of 1980 as the first step in "a major political realignment toward the right," but "that must be considered as a possibility," Richard E. Neustadt, Littauer Professor of Public Administration, said Wednesday.

Neustadt added that the Republican surge this year is at least partially a result of careful GOP grass roots planning that began in the late 1960s and was interrupted by Watergate. "This trend of Republican strength is only resurfacing now," Neustadt said