July 20, 1983

"My mother and father came to this country on a boat from Russia, i lliterate immigrants. The boats are still coming. How much are we w illing to share to strengthen this land of immigrants?" - Kirk D ouglas, on receiving an award from the American Institute for PublicS ervice. (A13:1)

President Reagan personally called wavering lawmakers today to appeal for the MX missile as Congressional leaders reported that the weapon system could be in trouble when the House of Representatives takes up the issue on Wednesday. House Speaker Thomas P. O'Neill Jr., an opponent of the MX, said an amendment to cut out the funds to buy the new missile could pass if it attracted 10 more votes. He gave credit to opponents of the missile around the country who have been conducting a campaign to stir up opposition. ''People on the other side are doing their fair share of work,'' said Mr. O'Neill, a Massachusetts Democrat. ''It's closed up considerably. There's been a tremendous influx of telephone calls and mail, and that often persuades a member.''

To insure the life of the Statue of Liberty, all of the iron supports for the copper exterior of the 97-year-old monument will have to be replaced during two years of restoration work, a team of American and French architects said today. The team has done a study that pinpoints 13 trouble spots in the statue. It will form the basis for restoration that is to begin this autumn and confirms observations made in the last several years by the National Park Service, which manages the statue.

On bus and train, by foot and by subway and in lines of crawling cars, millions of commuters are sweltering through a bad case of July. Their daily ritual has become a test of their mettle -physical and mental. They have sought a break, a breeze, air-conditioning that works. A few have found it, but for most there has been only more heat - a monotonous heat, the same stale air that was around yesterday and the day before. The commuters' days begin badly, their clock-radios clucking about a temperature near 80 at dawn and headed high with the sun. Suits soaked and demeanors soured by 9 A.M., they descend on their jobs, an army of ill humor. At day's end, they repeat the misery. Some thrive under duress, and all somehow survive, adapting with extra shirts, ice-cream breakfasts and an expert ability to divine the train or bus that has its air-conditioner on.

The Nicaraguan Government, marking the fourth anniversary of its revolution, announced today that it was willing to participate in international talks to achieve peace in Central America. It also called for negotiations on other points previously raised by the United States, including arms supplies and military support for the leftist rebels battling the Government of El Salvador. The announcements were made by Daniel Ortega Saavedra, the coordinator of the governing junta, in the main anniversary address. He said the Nicaraguan decision to enter into international talks was aimed at ending ''the excuses used against Nicaragua'' and would ''permit concrete steps'' by those interested in peace in the region.