Word: contra
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Dates: during 1980-1989
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While it's obviously in North's self-interest to demand the release of classified information that might absolve him, such actions make him look like a first-class hypocrite, not the American hero his supporters have called him. During the 1987 congressional Iran-contra hearings, North argued that his lying to Congress was justified because it prevented predictable leaks which could endanger lives. Now, when the publicizing of such secret information remains equally as risky, North has no qualms calling for its release...
That kind of prescience comes with the territory. Gorey is, after all, no stranger to Capitol controversies involving senatorial indiscretions. Since he last covered Congress, he has kept TIME's readers abreast of a number of national scandals, from Chappaquiddick to Watergate to Iran-contra. Although last week's vote against Tower ran strictly along party lines, Gorey hastens to point out that the flap is not as partisan as it may seem. "Senators are co-workers who see one another daily, travel together and become friends," Gorey explains. "Senators do not exult in the fall of a colleague...
...members of his Administration -- among them Secretary of State George Shultz, Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger, National Security Adviser Robert McFarlane, CIA Director William Casey and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General John Vessey -- "personally and directly" took part in arranging deals to have other countries aid the Nicaraguan contras at a time when help from the U.S. was forbidden by law; they then allegedly ordered the arrangements kept secret. Sullivan hopes to show with this classified material that North was just following orders when he lied to Congress about his contra activities...
...production of Mastergate, directed by Larry Gilbert, continues this weekend, with one performance tonight and two on Saturday. Gilbert's play is based on the 1987 Iran-Contra scandal and presents a humorous/satirical view of the government's handling of the situation and the press' coverage of it. Throughout the Mastergate hearings, politicians confuse cliches and information. National figures like President Bush and Oliver North are loosely disguised as bumbling characters in the play. And throughout the performance, a TV crew stands to the side of the stage and resents a running commentary on the action, which critics are applauding...
...arms-for-hostages deals with Iran were kept secret from Congress until October 1986, when "the roof caved in on this house of cards" with public disclosures about the Iran-Contra affair, Keker said...