From: jviv@usmi01.midland.chevron.com (John Viveiros)
Newsgroups: talk.politics.misc
Subject: Re: Weinberger's Pardon
Date: 6 Jan 93 14:06:36 GMT
Organization: Chevron

In article <1993Jan6.084537.22214@Princeton.EDU> niepornt@phoenix.Princeton.EDU (David Marc Nieporent) writes:
>In article <1993Jan5.135645.3552@nntpserver.chevron.com> jviv@usmi01.midland.chevron.com (John Viveiros) writes:
>>>niepornt@phoenix.Princeton.EDU (David Marc Nieporent) writes:
>
>>>> As to impeaching Reagan, it is virtually impossible to prove he *knew*
>>>> about the illegalities, since North, et al, said they were operating
>>>> without his knowledge.  If it had been any other president, he probably
>>>> would have been impeached, but it was actually believable that Reagan
>>>> didn't know what the executive branch was doing.  It was actually
>>>> believable that Reagan didn't know what planet he was on, too, of course.
>
>>While it was impossible while he was in office since he had all the
>>power, we now have Weinberger's notes as evidence that Reagan knew that
>>the arms were going to Iran and that it was illegal (in the
>>interpretation of Cap himself, and George Schultz, one of the
>>boardmembers of my company).  Reagan was trading arms so that he could
>>get the hostages back to appear to be the president who could succeed at
>>anything.
>
>>What a country!!?
>
>Um, sorry, but Caspar's notes prove that Reagan was at meetings
>where these things were discussed.  However, I still find it quite 
>believable that he didn't know it was happening.  He probably thought it 
>was a movie or something.  Or maybe he just dozed off in the middle,
>like he did at summit meetings.  Or maybe they just weren't using small
>enough words for him to understand.  It's awfully tricky for him to
>figure out what's going on without a script, you know.
>
>David M. Nieporent 

David - I heard Weinberger's notes quoted during a discussion of the
pardons on the "MacNeil-Lehrer News Hour" (an excellent source of info
by the way).  I will try to recreate the quote as best as possible.

'We (Weinberger and George Scultz) informed the president that sending
arms to Iran was illegal, and that using Israel as the middle man
doesn't make it legal.  Reagan replied, I'll worry about the illegality,
I want everyone to know that big Ron Reagan can bring the hostages
home.'

Those are pretty close to the exact words, as I tried to embed it in my
mind when I heard it (asked my wife to repeat it to me as she heard it
so I could get it right).  I didn't think "Big Ron" had it in him, but
no.  He knew what was happening, he knew it was illegal (~basically aid
to an enemy).  And according do Weinberger's notes, he was doing it for
personal glory (ok at least according to the one entry I heard).  When I
first heard it, my first thought was that it sounded like an impeachable
offense.

We'll all know more when the story is filled out a little more when all
relevant papers have been sifted through, but I think the question of
whether Reagan knew and sanctioned these activities is settled.

-- 
John Viveiros     (jviv@chevron.com)
Chevron USA        Standard disclaimer applies
Midland TX 
Newsgroups: talk.politics.misc