Lame-Duck Reagan ‘Hasn’t Quacked’

WASHINGTON — President Reagan scoffed today at those who see his political strength diminishing, telling a business group that despite all the talk of his lame-duck status, “I have not quacked once.”

Now into the final nine months of his presidency, Reagan spoke of ending his tenure “with a bang and not a whimper” in brief remarks delivered to members of the American Business Council in the Old Executive Office Building. Referring to an earlier comment by White House Chief of Staff Howard H. Baker about lame-duck Presidents, he said: “I have not quacked once.”