County’s Congressmen Back Reagan’s Handling of Issue

Not only do Orange County’s congressmen support President Reagan’s handling of the Iranian arms- contra aid scandal, but most see nothing illegal about the arms profits going to the Nicaraguan rebels unless it is shown that the profits actually belonged to U.S. taxpayers.

And one congressman--Rep. William E. Dannemeyer (R-Fullerton)--said Reagan Administration officials involved in the secret transfer would not have found such conduct necessary if not for the former ban on contra aid--a ban that would not have existed if Republicans had controlled Congress.

“We sold arms to whomever, and the payment was worth more than the billing,” said Rep. Robert E. Badham (R-Newport Beach). “The money on top--the skim, the free money aspect--could be routed anywhere. I have no objection to that going to freedom fighters, since Congress denied taxpayers’ money going there. . . .”

“I think the weapons part of it was a major mistake,” said Rep. Robert K. Dornan (R-Garden Grove). “It should have been high-tech stuff, like medical supplies or jet airliners, which Iran badly needs. It should have been everything except things that go bang and boom. . . . The mistake is in referring to these people (in Iran) as moderates. An Iranian moderate is an Iranian out of ammunition.”

All five Orange County congressmen, who were interviewed individually this week, said they still support Reagan and his handling of the controversy. They credited Reagan with avoiding another Watergate by disclosing the contra aid connection to the Iranian arms deal as soon as he learned of it. At the same time, three of the five called for White House Chief of Staff Donald T. Regan to resign.

Reagan’s written request, drafted by the Justice Department, for an independent counsel to investigate the scandal lists a dozen federal laws that may have been violated by Administration officials. They include possible violation of the Arms Export Control Act, which bars the export of weapons to Iran, as well as defrauding the government of profits earned from the sale of U.S. property (weapons) and ignoring the congressional ban that prohibited direct or indirect military aid for the contras during the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30.

Badham said that although he opposes selling arms to Iran, he believes that there were extenuating circumstances because “our staunchest ally in the Middle East, Israel,” has been selling weapons to Iran for years. Also, he said, the United States may have merely sent U.S. arms to Israel to replace weapons Israel took out of its own arsenal to deliver to Iran.

Rep. Daniel E. Lungren (R-Long Beach) insisted that there was nothing wrong with the arms shipments because the lives of U.S. hostages were at stake and the President was obligated to pursue “feelers” from Iranian moderates.

Added Rep. Ron Packard (R-Carlsbad): “I can’t fault what was done (by the Administration) unless it was violating the law. . . . It’s the most serious problem (Reagan has) had to deal with in his presidency, particularly on foreign policy. . . . It’s a big mess, there’s no doubt about it.”

“Speaking as a lawyer,” said Dannemeyer, “I don’t think there’s been any violation of the law.” But he cautioned that the contra aid “violated the spirit of the law, and that’s something people should look at in judging what happened.”

If Republicans controlled Congress, then contra aid would have been provided, and “there would have been no necessity perceived by some like (Marine Lt. Col. Oliver L.) North to seek other means to find financial assistance for the contras, “ Dannemeyer said.

Badham, Dornan and Lungren said Chief of Staff Regan should resign to restore public confidence in the Administration that has been shaken by the scandal. Lungren also believes CIA Director William J. Casey should quit. Packard and Dannemeyer foresee more personnel changes in the Administration but do not call for further resignations or firings.

Badham, Packard and Lungren said the news media had inflamed the controversy and endangered the lives of hostages in Lebanon.

Each added that it will be more difficult now to persuade House members to approve future aid to the Nicaraguan rebels. But they also predicted that there will be enough votes to secure passage.

The President’s chief of staff was the focus of some criticism.

Said Dornan: “It would be a class act if Regan were to announce a date certain for his departure.”

But Dornan added that Regan should not leave for at least three months because the President needs him during the upcoming presentation of the Administration’s proposed budget to Congress.

Badham said Regan should quit because, “according to the information I have, he was aware of the whole thing, and if President Reagan was not, then he (Regan) was keeping information from the President that the President should have had.”

Lungren added that Casey also should step down.

“If some people who have served the President so loyally in the past would have the good grace to resign now,” Lungren said, “he (Reagan) would be better served.

“I’m not sure the advice Mr. Casey gave the President on this whole matter and his performance before the select committees on intelligence in Congress have the credibility that they should have.

“They (Regan and Casey) have to realize that the average person is concerned about this, and there’s a potential for a crisis of faith in government that could hurt this President’s ability to be a strong President during his last two years in office, and I think it’s crucial that he be a strong President.”

So far, Vice Adm. John M. Poindexter has resigned as the President’s national security adviser, and North has been fired from the National Security Council staff. Poindexter was replaced by former top Pentagon official Frank C. Carlucci.

Dannemeyer and Lungren said they regard North as a national hero because of his involvement in the handling of the Achille Lauro and TWA hijackings, the invasion of Grenada and for his personal courage. North was responsible for the U.S. intelligence-gathering operations during the hijackings and the Grenada invasion.

“If you break the law or the policies set down by the Congress or the Administration, you suffer the consequences,” Dannemeyer said. “But there are not many who would jeopardize their own career for what they honestly believe in.”

Dannemeyer said he believes that the Administration has a credibility problem because the United States violated its own embargo on the sale of arms to Iran. “On its face,” the Fullerton Republican said, “that’s an inconsistency.”

Packard was critical of the news media. “They will claim, maybe legitimately,” he said, “that they are just getting the facts before the American people. (But) I trust this President. I believe he does communicate with the American people.”

But Dornan took issue with Reagan’s attacks on journalists. “He used to say, ‘Hey, they’re doing their job.’ This time, because of the heat he was taking, he slipped. I bet if you took him aside and asked if he really thought the press in the U.S. should ignore the story after it broke in Lebanon, he would say, ‘No, they had to print it.’ ”

Referring to future contra aid, Dannemeyer predicted that newly elected conservative-to-moderate House Democrats will be sensitive to strongly anti-Communist immigrant political constituencies and vote for it, “but not without some difficulty.”