Word: diverts
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Dates: during 1980-1989
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...testimony before the congressional committees investigating the Iran-contra affair, Poindexter insisted he and he alone gave final approval to Lieut. Colonel Oliver North's proposal to take profits from U.S. arms sales to Iran and divert them to the Nicaraguan rebel forces. He claimed to have exercised this authority without ever telling the President, so as to protect Reagan from the "politically volatile issue" that subsequently exploded on them. "I made the decision," Poindexter declared in an even, matter-of-fact tone. "I was convinced that the President would, in the end, think it was a good idea...
North had some basis for his assumption. He claimed he had sent not one but five memos "up the line" to Poindexter seeking presidential approval to divert the Iran arms proceeds to the contras. North went ahead and directed the diversion after each of three U.S. sales to the Iranians because Poindexter never told him that his proposals had been disapproved. He said he had "no recollection" of ever seeing Reagan's initials or check of approval on any returned document. He had shredded all but one of his copies and, incredibly, could not remember even looking...
Although most feminists continue to embrace the amendment, the current call to battle has met with a mixed reaction. Many of the amendment's staunchest advocates are concerned that an ERA campaign now might unwisely divert energy from efforts to tackle such specific and pressing concerns as parental leave, child care and pay equity. "I don't think one amendment will address all these issues, although I think it would be very important to have," says veteran Feminist Betty Friedan. "It's necessary but not sufficient. I don't want to put all my eggs in that one basket." Many...
...this is a theoretical mind-play which by all accounts from the jurors--Black and white--does not begin to explain what went on in their heads. The excessive concentration on race serves only to divert attention from the true danger of the Goetz decision, its approval of vigilantism, not racism...
Hall's work was not over. Confronted by Attorney General Edwin Meese on Sunday, Nov. 23, North admitted the scheme to divert funds from the Iranian arms sales to the contras. On the following Tuesday, Hall was startled to find NSC officials boxing up North's papers. To her horror, she realized that the false documents were still on her desk and were about to be discovered. In panic, she called North at a hotel and whispered for him to return to the office. "I was very emotional at the time," she told the committee. Hall frantically stuffed some...