I ‘May Have Forgotten’ Iran OK: Reagan

President Reagan, queried about reports that he is unable to recall a key decision in the Iran arms sale controversy, said today, “It’s possible to forget.”

Reagan said he would not answer any questions on the subject of the Iran arms sale controversy. But he challenged his listeners with a question when he was asked by a reporter if he was upset about reports that he could not recall whether he had authorized a 1985 shipment of arms to Iran by Israel.

“I’d like to ask one question of everybody,” Reagan replied when queried during an appearance before a group of black business executives. “Everybody who can remember what they were doing on Aug. 8, 1985, raise your hand.”

Reagan looked about the Cabinet room after his command and added: “I think it’s possible to forget. Nobody’s raised any hands.”

Meeting on Proposals

The President’s comments came in a meeting to discuss his competitiveness proposals. The group laughed as Reagan gazed about the room for a response.

Reagan did not explain why he spoke of Aug. 8, 1985. But the report by the Senate Intelligence Committee makes note of a meeting on that date of the National Security Council Planning Group in the White House. The meeting was held to discuss a proposal by Israeli Foreign Ministry official David Kimche to permit the sale of anti-tank missiles to Iran through Israel.

“There is a divergence of views as to whether approval was granted for the Israelis to ship arms to Iran either at that meeting or subsequent to it,” the report said.

The New York Times reported today that Reagan is unable to say with certainty if he approved in advance the first shipment of U.S. arms to Iran in the fall of 1985 because he genuinely cannot remember. Quoting an unidentified senior Administration official, the Times said Reagan’s confusion was responsible for his first telling the Tower Commission he approved the shipment and then saying later that he didn’t.

‘Appalling Thing’

House Speaker Jim Wright (D-Tex.), asked to comment on the report as he left a congressional leadership meeting with Reagan, replied, “Well, that’s an appalling thing.”

Asked if he found it credible that Reagan could have forgotten a decision of that importance, Wright said, “I find it believable that someone might have forgotten and if the President has a lot on his mind, maybe he did forget.”