Reagan Will Hold First Press Session in 4 Months Thursday

President Reagan, ending four months of semi-isolation from the press, will hold a news conference Thursday evening, his first formal session with reporters since the Iran- contra scandal rocked his Administration.

White House spokesman Marlin Fitzwater, who announced the news conference today, said he expects there will be an opening statement by Reagan.

The 30-minute news conference, beginning at 5 p.m. PST, will be televised nationally from the East Room.

During his last news conference on Nov. 19--six days before the contra fund diversion came to light--Reagan strongly defended the clandestine arms sales to Iran.

Reagan’s answers to some of the questions at that news conference later were corrected by the White House.

Fitzwater said Reagan’s preparation for Thursday’s news conference will be the same as usual with briefing books supplied to the President, and aides later quizzing him in a simulated news conference.

The White House has been under intense pressure for Reagan to hold a news conference, which is expected to be dominated by questions concerning the Iran-contra scandal.

While the President has not held a news conference in four months, he has made speeches on the subject and answered informal questions yelled by reporters at public appearances.