He Says He’s Lost Voice, Aide Says He Hasn’t : Reagan and the Reporters: A Hoarse Opera

For the second day in a row, President Reagan ducked questions from reporters today by claiming he had lost his voice. However, a White House spokesman said Reagan had not lost his voice.

As Reagan posed for pictures with congressional leaders around a Cabinet Room table, a reporter asked his view of a poll saying that two-thirds of Americans were skeptical about his explanation of the Iran- contra affair.

“I’ve lost my voice,” Reagan said--giving the same explanation he had used to avoid questions Tuesday.

He repeated the statement when a reporter asked whether aid to the contras had been doomed by the scandal.

But Reagan found his voice when a reporter noted that there were no women seated around the table. “It’s just our bad luck,” he replied.

White House spokesman Mark Weinberg, asked later if Reagan had lost his voice, said: “No. His voice is fine.”