O’Connor awaiting approval

WASHINGTON (AP) -Sandra Day O’Connor awaited easy confirmation by the Senate today as the first woman on the Supreme Court. The chairman of the Judiciary Committee predicted the vote would be unanimous. As the Senate opened debate on President Reagan’s first high court nomination , there was praise for Mrs. O’Connor from both liberals and conservatives. Even. Sen. Jesse Helms , R-N.C., an archconserva tive foe of legalized abortions , said he would vote for Mrs. O’Connor. He said he had been personally assured by the president that . Mrs. O’Connor believes the 1973 Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion was wrong . “I will vote for the confirma – tion of Mrs. O’Connor because I have faith in the president of the United States ,” Helms said . And liberal Democrat Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., said that , “by • this vote the Senate rejects the would-be tyranny of the New Right and reaffirms the vital principal of the independenc~ of the judiciary .” He has praised Reagan for naming a woman. The Judiciary Committee chairman, Sen. Strom Thurmond , R-S.C., said that despite some lingering opposition over her views on abortion, he expecte d not a single negative vote would be cast. Thurmond said on the Senate floor that Mrs. O’Connor, as a former state legislator and Arizona appeals court judge , believes that “laws are changed by the Congress and not by the federal courts .” Sen. Barry Goldwater , R-Ariz., said those who sought to block Mrs. O’Connor’s nomination be- •Cause of her