Reagan launches final-week drive with Boston rally

Declaring that ''what America needs is more high-tech not more high taxes,'' President Reagan began a 10-state, coast-to-coast windup campaign tour at a noon rally Thursday in Boston's City Hall Plaza with a hard-hitting attack on Walter Mondale.

The Democratic presidential candidate was scheduled to address a rally on Boston Common at noon today.

In decrying Mr. Mondale's call for higher taxes to help wipe out the federal budget deficit, the President charged that if the Democratic nominee ''is to do all the things he has promised he will have to raise taxes $1,890 per household. That means more than $150 a month.

''Its almost like having a second mortgage, a Mondale mortgage,'' he quipped.

President Reagan, referring to his early years as a Democrat, payed tribute to the leadership and ideals of ''Harry Truman, Scoop Jackson (former US Sen. Henry M. Jackson of Washington) and John F. Kennedy.'' He said that these Democrats were not part of the ''blame America first crowd'' but ''men who understood the challenges of the times.''

Appearing with the Republican President were several prominent Massachusetts Democrats who are supporting his reelection, amonge them former Gov. Edward J. King, former Boston Mayor John F. Collins, and Boston City Council President Joseph M. Tierney.

Reagan told the gathering of some 25,000 at the lunch-hour rally that he needs four more years to complete the programs his administration has begun.

''We have restored respect for America throughout the world,'' he declared under crisp, blue early November skies in a speech interrupted frequently by chants of ''four more years'' and ''all 50 states.'' Reagan assured the gathering that the nation is far more secure now than it was four years ago when he took office and that besides a stronger economy, including lower taxes, his regime had helped bring about a reduction in crime and a commitment to ''education excellence.''

He used the Boston rally to throw his political weight behind GOP contenders for Congress, including Raymond Shamie, conservative nominee for US Senate from Massachusetts, and US Sen. Gordon Humphrey (R) of New Hampshire, who is seeking reelection. The Boston visit was his first to New England, outside of Connecticut, since being renominated in August.