Capitol Journal
Capitol Journal
WETA "CAPITOL JOURNAL" 12/18/1986 IN 01.00.00-WETA credit/funding credits/title sequence 01.00.32-Hosts Hodding Carter and Mark Shields. Discussion of the unfolding IRAN-CONTRA scandal. Introduces Senator WARREN RUDMAN (R-NH) and former Senator HOWARD BAKER. 01.01.18-C/S DONALD REGAN surrounded by reporters. REGAN says he testified under oath that he did not know about diversion of funds from IRAN to the CONTRAS. C/S Sen. PATRICK LEAHY (D-VT) speaking to reporters, says that REGAN seemed forthright and honest, but REGAN'S knowledge is not the full story-still need POINDEXTER'S and NORTH'S testimony. Shot of White House spokesman issuing press statement in White House Press room. The statement, from REAGAN, says that REAGAN wants the full story of IRAN-CONTRA to come out immediately. Shot of NORTH standing to be sworn in to House meeting. V.O.-REAGAN asked CONGRESS to give NORTH and POINDEXTER limited IMMUNITY so they would testify. Shot of POINDEXTER being sworn in to House committee hearing. Shot of panel of House committee. 01.02.45--Shot of Sen. RICHARD LUGAR speaking to press outside Capitol, says he supports IMMUNITY, hopes NORTH and POINDEXTER will testify fully soon. C/S Sen. ORRIN HATCH speaking to reporters, HATCH says that he's interested in national security and foreign policy, not "prosecuting" people. C/S Sen. DAVID DURENBERGER (R-MN) with reporters, says he's concerned about getting into games with REAGAN about immunity and who will testify. V.O.-DURENBERGER and Sen. PATRICK LEAHY decided that the Senate Intelligence committee would reject REAGAN'S proposal of immunity for NORTH and POINDEXTER. Shot of Rep. LEE HAMILTON, newly appointed chair of House investigative committee, giving press conference, says that he believes that NORTH will make full disclosure, and did not personally request immunity, so his committee will work to get NORTH and POINDEXTER to testify. 01.04.20-Shot of Sen. RUDMAN and Sen. DANIEL INOUYE on panel of Senate Select Committee. V.O.-this committee is made up of six "mainstream Democrats" and five republicans, chaired by INOUYE. INOUYE says that the public and the press have prejudged that REAGAN is guilty in the IRAN-CONTRA deals, but he's not convinced. C/S Sen. RUDMAN, says that neither party wants to be perceived as attacking or defending REAGAN but to pursue the facts fairly. 01.05.18-Host Hodding Carter with Sen. RUDMAN. Discussion of possibility of REAGAN testifying. RUDMAN says that REAGAN could testify if his is the only testimony that can resolve a serious conflict, but he doesn't think that REAGAN should be brought to testify unnecessarily. Discussion of possible maneuvers if REAGAN gets pursued for his testimony. Sen. HOWARD BAKER says that it's never a good idea for a President to testify. BAKER says that it's apparent that REAGAN doesn't know the facts of the situation, and shouldn't volunteer to testify unless it's absolutely necessary. Discussion of LEAKS in the PRESS, leading to a negative portrayal of OLIVER NORTH-is NORTH being set up to be the FALL GUY? Is it possible that NORTH could have undertaken his actions largely unsupervised and without knowledge of superiors? 01.08.36-Sen. RUDMAN says he doesn't believe that NORTH is being set up, believes that NORTH will testify fully in the future, and he believes it is possible that NORTH acted on his own without knowledge and approval of high authorities. Shields counters that NORTH had to get the money from somewhere, which leads to suspicion of high authorities. RUDMAN says he's just saying it's conceivable that a small group of people could pull it off. BAKER is asked if NORTH could have acted alone-he says it's not conceivable for a Lieutenant Colonel to pull off such an operation. Lists agencies bound to be involved, the CIA, National Security Council, Secretary of Defense, Secretary of State, etc. Says that such an operation is bound to leave a trail of paper and personal contacts that can come to light later on.