IRAN-CONTRA CONCERNS STALLING CONFIRMATION OF GATES TO CIA POST

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP99-01448R000301270020-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 9, 2012
• Sequence Number: 20
• Publication Date: February 26, 1987
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

STAT
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/08/10: CIA-RDP99-01448R000301270020-4
A IVTIgni r ?rinrA,rr.
26 February 1987
11*p-contra concerns
staling confirmation
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of Gates to CIA post
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WASIIINGTON ? Robert M. Gates,
President Reagan's nominee to head
the CIAJs encountering unexpected
difficulties in the Senate amid con-
cerns that his role in the Iran-contra
affair inay have been more extensive
than previously realized.
Infltiehtial lawmakers said yester-
day tlipt they were reluctant to vote
on Gates' :confirmation until con-
gressi4rtal investigators had had
time top examine the involvement of
Gates and the CIA in the Iran-contra
operation. That examination could
take months, dashing administration
hopes for a speedy confirmation.
The Senate Intelligence Committee
was apected to vote next week on
the confirmation, but officials there
have adopted a "wait and see" atti-
tude.
In q Statement issued yesterday,
Intelligence Chairman David L. Bo-
ren (D., Okla.) and Vice Chairman
S.: Cohen (R., Maine) said
the committee would hold another
hearing: on Gates Wednesday and
then decide how to proceed with his
confirmation.
Gates' nomination had been ex-
pected to win swift approval from
the Senate, but his two days of testi-
mony last: week raised doubts about
whether he attempted to keep impor-
tant aspects of the Iran-contra affair
from congress.
Soigces who were once optimistic
that the Senate would approve Gates'
nomination now say his confirma-
tion is in jeopardy.
"M* people aren't prepared to
vote Ow," said Sen. Sam Nunn (D.,
Ga.), a meinber of both the Senate
Intelltgence Committee and the spe-
cial committee investigating the
Iran-xntr( affair. "I agree with the
spirieof delaying it."
?74s,
The- concern being expressed by
several senators is that they do not
want to-be put in a position of voting
on Gates' confirmation and then be
confronted with damaging disclo-
sures about him.
Senatlors who are advocating a de-
lay in the confirmation say there is
little to lose by adopting such an
approach because Gates, in the
meantime, would continue as acting
CIA ditector.
"He'll be there doing his work, but
put there by the President, not by
us," said Sen. Alan Cranston (D..
Calif.), an Intelligence Committee
member.
Those supporting a delay include
Senate Majority Leader Robert C.
Byrd (D., W. Va.) and the chairman
and vice chairman of the Senate
Iran-contra investigative committee,
Sens. Daniel K. Inouye (D., Hawaii)
Ind Warren H. Rudman .(R., N.H.).
Gates, a career intelligence officer,
served as the number-two official in
the CIA for most of 1986. He became
acting director in December when
former Director William J. Casey was
hospitalized With a brain ?tumor.
Critics of Gates have questioned
whether he was forthcoming with
Congress in November when the de-
tails of the Iran arms deal began to
surface. Sen. Arlen Specter (R., Pa.)
charged yesterday that Gates might
have been involved in an effort to
cover up important aspects of the
Iran-contra affair.
"You really have a whole pattern
here of calculated concealment,"
said Specter, a member of the Senate
Intelligence Committee. Specter
faulted Gates for his role in prepar-
ing testimony by Casey that failed to
mention the possible diversion of
funds from the Iran arms deal to the
anti-government rebels in Nicara-
gua.
Specter also said that an unpub-
Fortner Senate Intelligence Com- lished report by the CIA inspector
? mime Chairman David Durenbe?.? uerC ,
general's office on the IA, i s role n
(R., Minn.) said it may be advisable the Iran-contra affair raises "very
for Reilgan.to 'submit a new nominee significant" questions about the corn-
- on Whii 'didn't have anything to petency of Gates. Specter would not
do with. the Iran-contra thing" ? if it elaborate.
appeaks.that Gates' confirmation will Other lawmakers have been far I
be held up indefinitely. But Duren- less critical of Gates, but neverthe-
berger said he hoped the Senate less appear leery of endorsing him
woul4 act quickly to confirm Gates. for fear that the Tower commission
report being released today or subse-
quent investigations could prove ?
damaging.
ANN.
Robert M. Gates
CIA nominee in difficulty
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/08/10: CIA-RDP99-01448R000301270020-4