Reagan Accused of Betraying Right

Coalition Blasts ‘Coverup’ Of Court Nominee’s Record

A coalition of conservative and anti-abortion groups, complaining that Ronald Reagan has ignored them in his administration, yesterday accused the president of political betrayal in his nomination of Sandra D. O’Connor to the U.S. Supreme Court. The coalition warned that the nomination will cost the p~esident c?nser vative grassroots support for his economic program and will create new political difficulties for Republican senators who vote to confirm O’Connor over the protest of pro-life activists. But Senate Majority Leader Howard Baker dismissed conservative criticism of O’Connor, saying it is not likely to be a serious obstacle to her confirmation .” He predicted that she “will be confirmed easily by the U.S. Senate.” Sen. Barry Goldwater, R-Ariz., called the coalition’s warnings “a lot of foolish claptrap” and said conservative groups were risking their credibility by their attacks on O’Connor. The White House believes its effort to defuse right-wing opposition to the nomination is working, but opponents vowed not to give up the fight. Representatives of 21 “New Right” organizations held a news conference yesterday in a Senate conference room to launch a broadside attack against the O’Connor nomination, with the announced intention of making her the Ernest Lefever of the abortion issue. “Just as liberals were active against Ernest Lefever because of his symbolism, we believe there is important symbolism in this nomination,”