Sen. Inouye to Head Probe of Iran-Contra Arms Deal : Byrd and Dole Pledge ‘Objective Result’ From 11-Member Committee

Pledging to get “an objective result,” Senate leaders named an 11-member Watergate-style committee today to investigate all aspects of the unfolding Iran- contra scandal. Sen. Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii), who served on the original Watergate panel, was named chairman.

Democratic leader Robert C. Byrd of West Virginia and Republican leader Bob Dole of Kansas, appearing at a joint news conference, also announced the other senators chosen for the 11-member panel.

In addition to Inouye, the other Democrats named were Sens. George J. Mitchell of Maine, Sam Nunn of Georgia, Paul S. Sarbanes of Maryland, Howell Heflin of Alabama and David L. Boren of Oklahoma.

The GOP members named were Sens. Warren B. Rudman of New Hampshire, James A. McClure of Idaho, Orrin G. Hatch of Utah, William S. Cohen of Maine and Paul S. Trible Jr. of Virginia.

Byrd and Dole said they decided against having the two non-voting ex officio members they had originally planned, thus making it an 11-member panel.

Panelists ‘Tough’ but Fair

Byrd said he sought to pick senators “who will be fair, who will be tough, who will not be out to get anybody and who will not be out to protect anybody but who will be interested in revealing to the public the facts, all the facts and nothing but the facts.”

Dole, emphasizing the importance of the panel, said, “I would say as a Republican it’s probably even more important to us than maybe those on the Democratic side because it does involve this Administration.”

Byrd, who will become Senate majority leader next month, picked the chairman and the Democratic members of the panel. But he had kept his choices a closely guarded secret, notifying the senators he picked only shortly before the news conference.

Dole had likewise kept the identities of the GOP members of the committee to himself.

House Plans Panel

House leaders have agreed to set up a similar, 15-member committee in that chamber, but its membership will not be announced until next month.

Agreement on forming the House and Senate committees was reached after the leaders from both chambers said it would have been too complicated and unwieldy to form a single, joint committee. The purpose for creating special committees is to consolidate congressional investigations into the matter.

The Senate committee will be formally organized in January once legislation is passed by the 100th Congress, which convenes Jan. 6.

Recalling the high visibility of the original Watergate Committee, senators have carried on active yet quiet campaigns to serve on the panel.

Appointment Sought

Byrd had conceded that senators were lining up in hopes of being picked to serve.

“I’ve had a good many senators call me and ask to be on it,” Byrd said at one point. Asked how many, Byrd would say only “a considerable number.”

Byrd’s selection process consisted mainly of private interviews with senators during which, according to participants, the Democratic leader asked general questions about what the particular senator thought the committee should be like.

Byrd would say only that he hoped to pick a panel that would be tough, fair and “reflect well on the institution.”