Reagan Denies Any Cover-up Was Attempted in Iran Scandal

President Reagan denied Friday that a cover-up was attempted in connection with the Iran- contra affair.

The question of a cover-up was raised earlier in the week when The Times reported that the federal criminal investigation of the Iran arms sale operation had widened to include recently discovered indications that key figures in the operation tried to cover up the scandal as it began to unravel last fall.

The Washington Post reported Friday that the presidentially appointed review board studying the operations of the National Security Council staff is examining whether a cover-up was attempted.

When asked whether such an effort had been made, Reagan shook his head and called out, “No,” as he left the White House and headed for a helicopter that took him to Camp David, Md., for the weekend.

Meanwhile, White House spokesman Marlin Fitzwater said the White House had provided to the review board, headed by former Sen. John Tower (R-Tex.), all of the material it sought and expects the panel to deliver “a very critical report, a very tough report” on its findings.

“This most recent group of requests that they asked for in early February included, for example, computer discs, desk calendars, phone logs, handwritten notes and national security decision directives,” Fitzwater said.

“We have said from the beginning, let the chips fall where they may. We’ll take our lumps,” Fitzwater said. “And, if this report is critical and tough and lays it all out, then that’s exactly what we want.”

Reagan created the panel to study the NSC’s role after it was disclosed that profits from the Administration’s secret arms sales to Iran apparently had been diverted to the rebels in Nicaragua by fired NSC staff member Oliver L. North.

In reporting the expansion of the federal criminal investigation into the arms sale, The Times, quoting a government source, said the suggestions that officials tried to conceal important information appeared to focus on individuals who took part in the 18-month operation. There is no indication that the allegations involve Reagan or other senior White House officials, the source said.