Calls Him ‘Accountable’ for Aides’ Actions in Scandal : Cheney Assails Reagan’s Management

A leading House Republican criticized President Reagan on Sunday for failing to manage the White House properly, and said Reagan “has to be held accountable” for the actions of his aides in the Iranian arms scandal.

“Clearly, something went haywire at the White House,” said Rep. Dick Cheney (R-Wyo.), chairman of the House Republican Policy Committee and ranking minority member of the House select committee formed to investigate the scandal. “I think (Reagan’s) lack of involvement in some of those details is at the root of the problem.

“The President has to be held accountable,” he said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”

Tough Scrutiny Seen

Cheney’s unusually blunt criticism, coming from a GOP conservative who has been a staunch Reagan supporter, suggested that the President will face tough scrutiny from Republicans, as well a1931494501select committees begin probing the Iranian arms sales next month.

The committees’ chairmen, Rep. Lee H. Hamilton (D-Ind.) and Sen. Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii), have said they intend to investigate not only the secret arms sales to Iran and the diversion of profits to Nicaraguan rebels, but also whether Reagan ordered those actions or was unaware of the activities of his own staff.

“The President clearly regrets now that he was as disengaged as he was,” Cheney said of Reagan’s decision-making style. “As he says, mistakes were made.”

But, when asked whether Reagan could change his basic approach after six years in the White House, Cheney--who served as chief of staff to President Gerald R. Ford--said: “You’re not going to be able to teach an old dog new tricks.”

Also Defends Reagan

Cheney defended Reagan on several issues, arguing that there is still no clear evidence that any illegal acts were committed in connection with the arms sales or the diversion of profits to the contras.

“At this point, we’re still looking for the so-called smoking gun,” he said.

He said he regretted that Reagan had decided to keep the sale of arms to Iran secret from Congress, but said it was “a debatable point” as to whether that decision was illegal.

“(The scandal) is certainly not analogous to Watergate, for example, where you had a so-called third-rate burglary that led to a cover-up and perjury and obstruction of justice,” he said. “Nothing like that has occurred in this case.”

And he said Reagan can still act effectively in the coming two years if he moves quickly enough to clear up the questions raised by the scandal.

“I think it would be a mistake to write off the last two years of the Reagan Administration,” he said. “The President is a very resilient man. . . . There’s no reason why the last two years of the Reagan Administration can’t be productive ones.”

He applauded Reagan’s appointment last week of David M. Abshire, now the U.S. ambassador to NATO, as a counselor to handle the scandal. Abshire’s appointment, he said, should allow the White House to operate on “two tracks . . . (and) go on with the business of government.”