American Notes IRAN-CONTRA

Can former National Security Adviser John Poindexter accomplish what Oliver North could not: force Ronald Reagan or George Bush into a courtroom grilling about the Iran-contra scandal? Last week Poindexter's lawyer, Frederick Robinson, insisted that Reagan had ordered the admiral to tell Congress that the NSC staff was not violating restrictions on U.S. aid to the contras at a time when, in fact, it was. He also contended that Poindexter had briefed Bush about each White House meeting on Iran-contra that the then Vice President had missed. If so, Bush's knowledge might be far more extensive than he has admitted.

Federal Judge Gerhard Gesell killed North's subpoenas for Reagan and Bush, partly because North rarely met with either the President or the Vice President. But Poindexter saw Reagan almost daily, and he dealt regularly with Bush. The decision on who must testify in Poindexter's trial will be made by Federal Judge Harold Greene, who reminded Robinson that "so far, ((Reagan)) has not been required to appear at trial." Replied Poindexter's lawyer: "No, but we're looking forward to it, your honor."