Capitol Journal
Capitol Journal
WETA "CAPITOL JOURNAL" 12/11/1986 IN 01.00.00-WETA credit/funding credits/title sequence 01.00.31-HOST HODDING CARTER-the diversion of funds from IRANIAN ARMS SALES to the CONTRAS in NICARAGUA looks like it could be the big story into the next year. Co-Host Mark Shields agrees. Carter-intro guests, Rep. TOM FOLEY and Sen. WILLIAM COHEN to comment on IRAN-CONTRA. 01.01.13-C/S Sec. GEORGE SHULTZ testifying about the ARMS SALES to a House committee. SHULTZ says he had no role in diverting funds. V.o.-SHULTZ named OLIVER NORTH as a central figure in the deal. SHULTZ testifying. In response to a question, SHULTZ discusses the chain of command for ambassadors, which was evidently broken by NORTH. V.O.-SHULTZ testifies that he tries to influence REAGAN on foreign policy but if he doesn't win, he stands behind REAGAN'S policy. V.o.-SHULTZ admitted knowing about arms sales to IRAN, but denied knowing the funds were to be given to CONTRAS. SHULTZ testifying: He didn't know about the diversion of funds, and it would be an illegal act. 01.03.57-Shot of Rep. DANTE FASCELL (D-FL) swearing in a witness to the Foreign Affairs Committee. C/S ROBERT MACFARLANE, Shots of FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE. C/S JOHN POINDEXTER taking the fifth in committee hearing. Shot of POINDEXTER smoking a pipe [fiendishly?], shot of Rep. MICHAEL BARNES (D-MD) chastising POINDEXTER for taking the fifth, says that if POINDEXTER acted illegally but patriotically, then he would face lenient punishment and should, for the good of the country, tell what he knows. Shot of POINDEXTER'S lawyer, reacts angrily to BARNES' comments. BARNES responds he didn't mean to imply POINDEXTER was guilty. C/S Rep. TOBY ROTH (R-WI) says that POINDEXTER is not cooperating with REAGAN'S wishes [or is he???] by taking the fifth and not testifying. C/S POINDEXTER and counsel, the lawyer says he must defend the client's rights and cooperation will come in due course. V.O.-it is not clear when POINDEXTER will testify. 01.06.53-C/S OLIVER NORTH with counsel in House Committee hearing. NORTH is asked by Rep. LEE HAMILTON (D-IN) if he took funds from the IRAN ARMS SALES to put in a bank account for the CONTRAS. NORTH'S lawyer gets angry, says that everyone knows NORTH is going to take the fifth. Rep. HAMILTON defends his prerogative to ask questions. NORTH'S LAWYER argues. Shot of NORTH taking the fifth amendment. Rep. HAMILTON says he hopes to find a way to get NORTH'S testimony in the future. NORTH says that he does want to tell his story. 01.08.36-CARTER-asks if the IRAN-CONTRA scandal will go far into future. Rep. FOLEY says that the House and Senate are determined to investigate, but not to be preoccupied. Discussion of the role of the media in creating a lot of hype and scandal. FOLEY says that the houses will decide to make select committees so that different committees won't all try to get a piece of the action. Sen. COHEN says the scandal could get wrapped up quickly if key persons would testify promptly. The remaining question is how funds were diverted to the Contras. Shields discusses all of the countries allegedly involved in IRAN-CONTRA, asks if it's plausible that REAGAN was really ignorant of such a massive operation. COHEN says that the alleged structure of the operation kept all information on a need-to-know basis. 01.11.33-Sen. COHEN--A major issue at stake is the increase of "privatization" of foreign policy, cutting out the Secretary of State's influence, the Defense Department, and running policy through small groups and private dealers. The actions in the IRAN ARMS SALES were highly irregular and a dangerous precedent, if the White House is allowed to circumvent Congress and the public's wishes in making foreign policy. COHEN says the sale of arms to IRAN hurts U.S. credibility in the international effort against TERRORISM. FOLEY agrees that other countries are upset that the U.S. is providing weapons to IRAN. Says that Congress isn't out to make criminal cases, but to decide on laws to prevent the abuses. He takes REAGAN at his word that he was innocent until proven otherwise, but nonetheless the possibility that REAGAN and BUSH didn't know about these operations is almost as disturbing as the idea that they were aware of the operation.