AID TO NICARAGUA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP88-01070R000301600004-6
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 7, 2010
• Sequence Number: 4
• Publication Date: February 16, 1985
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Approved For Release 2010/01/07: CIA-RDP88-0107OR000301600004-6
RADIO TV REPORTS, INC.
4701 WILLARD AVENUE, CHEVY CHASE, MARYLAND 20815 [phone]
CBS Evening News STATION WDVM-TV
CBS Network
DATE February 16, 1985 6:30 P.M. CITY Washington, D.C.
Aid to Nicaragua
BOB SCHIEFFER: It may sound like a contradiction?in
terms, but President Reagan made a public appeal today for more
secret aid to the rebels in Nicaragua. The appeal came in the
President's weekly radio address.
We have a report from Jacqueline Adams.
JACQUELINE ADAMS: From his California ranch, President
Reagan launched a major lobbying effort for continued covert
assistance to Nicaraguan rebels. Recalling France's aid to
American Revolutionaries in the 1770s, Mr. Reagan said that help
for the Contras is legal and totally consistent with our history.
PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN: How can we refuse them
assistance when we know that ultimately their fight is our fight?
Congress must understand that the Ame-rican people support the
struggle for democracy in Central America.
ADAMS: White House sources say there's no way American
troops will be sent to Nicaragua, but they're quite blunt about
wanting to change what they see as Nicaragua's Marxist-Leninist
regime into a fully democratic government.
The U.S. cannot legally foment the overthrow of the
Nicaraguan government. But after considering options for
military and humanitarian aid, the President decided to continue
to finesse the point, asking Congress for $14 million in not-so-
secret secret aid for Nicaraguan rebels.
Some members of Congress doubt that Mr. Reagan's
lobbying will change many votes.
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SENATOR DAVID DURENBERGER: There are a lot of us who
strongly would support a sensible American commitment to democra-
tic revolution in Nicaragua who just will not support it with the
CIA is supposed to run a covert action.
ADAMS: For years the Administration argued that covert
aid was needed to stop the flow of arms from Nicaragua to its
neighbors. Now the White House is emphasizing that militry
pressure is needed to force the Sandinistas to negotiate with the
Contras.
Regardless of the argument, White House officials admit
there's a tough fight ahead.
Approved For Release 2010/01/07: CIA-RDP88-0107OR000301600004-6