Reagan ‘Mightily Ticked Off’ at Aides’ Criticism of Shultz

President Reagan has the “utmost confidence” in Secretary of State George P. Shultz and is “mightily ticked off” that some White House officials were quoted anonymously as saying Shultz was not a team player and was trying to shirk responsibility for the Iran arms deal, spokesman Larry Speakes said today.

The New York Times reported that the officials were irked over Shultz’s testimony before a House committee, revealing that the Administration continued making secret contacts with Iranian representatives as recently as December.

Responding to that story, Speakes said Reagan “believes strongly in Secretary Shultz and he has the utmost confidence in Secretary Shultz. We at the White House do not have any problems with Secretary Shultz testifying before the members of the House Foreign Relations Committee.”