Furor Over Coverage Settled by Compromise : Media: Limitations that would have barred news reporters from the tour by four Presidents are partially rescinded.

YORBA LINDA — On the eve of its dedication, the Nixon Library once again became a center of controversy as Bush Administration officials Wednesday criticized limitations on press coverage imposed by the former President.

But under pressure from the White House and news organizations, library officials announced a compromise under which reporters will be able to take part in a tour of the library today that previously was open only to photographers.

Rules ordered by Nixon aide Ronald Walker--at Nixon’s request, according to Administration aides--would have allowed only photographers to be present during major portions of the dedication today of the library complex.

The rules would have been a sharp break from the usual coverage of White House events.

Following the criticism, library officials agreed to allow media representatives to accompany President Bush and former Presidents Richard M. Nixon, Ronald Reagan and Gerald Ford on two of their four stops during a tour of the library. Media will be permitted in the lobby of the library and around the reflecting pool outside the facility, but quarters will be too cramped for the entourage to join the Presidents in the World Leaders room and at Nixon’s birthplace, a library spokesman said.

“It was a space consideration, and we’ve worked out an acceptable compromise to the best of my knowledge,” said the spokesman, who asked not to be named. “We’re dealing with a numbers situation . . . , not with a cover-up.”

However, White House aides said they had originally been given a different explanation.

“They just don’t want anyone asking questions,” one White House aide said, adding that the decision--communicated to the White House over the weekend and to reporters who traveled to California with the Bush party Wednesday afternoon--came as a surprise to Administration officials.

The Nixon library project repeatedly has been embroiled in controversy during its history. Most recently, Hugh Hewitt, the library’s executive director, told The Times in an interview that the library would bar researchers who were seen as anti-Nixon, specifically citing Washington Post newsman Bob Woodward. Hewitt later backed down, saying he had spoken without consulting Nixon.

As part of the opening ceremonies, Nixon plans to lead Bush, Ford and Reagan on a tour of the library and his boyhood home.

Ordinarily, any such appearance by Bush would be covered by a “pool” made up of reporters who cover the White House--representatives of the two U.S. wire services, a newspaper and a magazine reporter, one TV network crew with a correspondent, a radio reporter and several photographers. Pool membership pool rotates daily among organizations that regularly cover the White House.

That pool format is used even during White House photo opportunities. Bush has made a rule of not answering questions during photo sessions, but reporters are allowed to ask them. Often, photo sessions provide the only opportunity for reporters to question the President on the events of the day.

Times correspondent Shannon Sands contributed to this report.

DEDICATION SCHEDULE

Dignitaries, celebrities and Republican Party leaders will be featured at today’s ceremonies dedicating the Richard M. Nixon Library and Birthplace. Some seating will be available for the public, but organizers recommend arriving early as it will take some time for Secret Service agents to check visitors on their way into the dedication.

Library officials released the following schedule of dedication events, which begin at 8 a.m.:

Musical prelude

The Santa Ana Winds Youth Band, directed by Bob Ward

Welcome by Master of Ceremonies Johnny Grant

Welcome by Yorba Linda Mayor Gene Wisner

Entertainment by the Disneyland All-American College Band

Remarks by county Supervisor Gaddi H. Vasquez

Entertainment by the Hispanic Dancers of Santa Ana

Remarks by Assemblyman John R. Lewis (R-Orange)

Remarks by state Sen. Frank Hill (R-Whittier)

Remarks by Rep. William E. Dannemeyer (R-Fullerton)

Entertainment by the University of Southern California Marching Band and the Indio Drill Team

Entrance of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing Band of El Toro

Welcome remarks and introduction of official dignitaries

Seating of Mr. and Mrs. David Eisenhower and Mr. and Mrs. Edward Cox, accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. Bob Hope

Seating of Gov. and Mrs. George Deukmejian

Seating of Sen. and Mrs. Pete Wilson

Seating of the Rev. Billy Graham

Seating of the Rev. and Mrs. Norman Vincent Peale

Dedication fanfare by trumpeters

Entrance of the Presidents and First Ladies

former President and Mrs. Gerald R. Ford

former President and Mrs. Ronald Reagan

former President and Mrs. Richard M. Nixon

President and Mrs. George Bush

Posting of the colors, with the Yorba Linda Boy and Girl Scouts

The national anthem, sung by Vikki Carr

Invocation by Billy Graham

Welcome by William E. Simon, former Treasury secretary, president of the Richard M. Nixon Library and Birthplace Foundation board of directors

Remarks by Gerald Ford

Remarks by Ronald Reagan

Remarks by George Bush

Remarks by Richard Nixon

Benediction by Norman Vincent Peale

“God Bless America,” sung by Carr

Grand finale, including doves and 50,000 balloons

Several television stations plan to carry part or all of Thursday morning’s events:

KNBC-TV Channel 4 will broadcast from 10 to 11:30 a.m.

KTTV-TV Fox Channel 11 will broadcast from 9:30 to 11 a.m., followed by a one-hour special on the library.

CNN will carry library coverage throughout the morning starting at 10 a.m.

KCAL-TV Channel 9 will interrupt regular programming from time to time in the morning, but will not cover the entire dedication. Live coverage is planned during the station’s noon newscast.

In addition, NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw will broadcast from the library Thursday afternoon.