WHY CONTRA HEARINGS AREN'T LIKE WATERGATE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90-00965R000200810001-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 20, 2012
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: May 24, 1987
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/01/20: CIA-RDP90-00965R000200810001-3
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NEW YORK TIMES MAY j 1 1987
The Committee's Criticism of President Reagan Is Muted
Why Contra Hearings
Arpn'Like Watergate
By JOEL BRINKLEV
WAStIINGTOtd
ALONG with new details of White House
A 1**s for a private foreige policy htitia-
tive, the Irancoatra hearings so for
have provided clear indications of what
the proceedings probably will - and probably
will not - achieve.
By now it seems clear they will not turn into a
forum for attacking President Reagan. Despite
comparisons. these are not the Watergate hear-
Mp. Almost no one believes the president will be
impeached. even though testimony shows Mr.
Reagan and his aides deep in planning and en-
couraging aid for the Nicaraguan contras. a pro-
gram that may eventually be judged illegal.
Instead of excoriating the President or his
aides and allies as possible lawbreakers, most
committee members aretrying to reinforce Con-
gressional influence on foreign policy. The result
has been a relatively bloodless proceeding.
The sharp contrast between these hearings and
those on the Watergate scandal was amply
demonstrated last week by Capitol Hill's reac-
tion to Mr. Reagan's startling about-face on what
he knew of the covert program to aid the contras.
Three weeks ago he said, "1 had no detailed infor-
mation" about W. One week ago, after Robert C.
McFarlane, his former national security adviser,
contradicted him, Mr. Reagan said the program
'was my idea to begin with" and the hearings
were producing nothing "I didn't know about."
Legislators were ruminating last week about
what would have happened 14 years ago if Presi-
dent Nixon had suddenly come forth during the
Watergate hearings, after months of saying he
had not been involved in the cover-up, to say that
the whole thing had been his idea from the start-
Certainly the reaction would not have been as
muted as it was last week. Mr. Reagan's about-
face was no mentioned or alluded to even once in
three days of Iran-contra hearings.
In private, some members of the Iran-contra
committees and other legislators say President
Reagan remains so popular that they dare not at-
tack him. They also seem concerned that harsh
criticism of the contra aid program might make
them appear pro-Sandinisia - or worse, pro-
Communist. Besides, they say, even in the un-
likely event that sentiment for impeachment
should arise. Mr. Reagan's term of office would
be almost over by the time evidence was com-
piled. charges were tiled and hearings held. So
the rule of most legislators now seems to be: Lay
out the evidence. but make no editorial comment.
One Opponent's Caripla it
ibis approach leaves the President's less reti-
cent Opponents frustrated and atone. Representa-
tive James J. Florio, a New Jersey Democrat,
sounded almost plaintive lUrsday, speaking on
the House floor about the polar change in the
President's statements on what he knew: "I
have waited in vain to this point for someone to
utter the word 'lie.' The American people were
being lied to by their President, and no onf "-
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/01/20 CIA-RDP90-00965R000200810001-3