Speakes’ Version of Fixing Slip Differs From Reagan’s

Former White House spokesman Larry Speakes has a different version than President Reagan of how a clarification was issued last November when Reagan denied Israel’s involvement in the Iran arms sales.

Reagan said during his news conference Thursday night that his staff pointed out his mistake after his Nov. 19 news conference ended.

“And when they told me this, and when I finished bumping my head, I said to them, ‘Quick, write down a correction of this,”’ Reagan said.

“I didn’t realize that in there maybe I talked too long. I said, ‘I didn’t realize that I had said that or given that impression. We’ve got to get this message to all of you (in the media) before you went to work on your stories.”’

But Speakes--in a briefing the day after the November news conference--said he knew when Reagan made the statement that no third country was involved in the arms shipments that “it was obviously a mistake, and then when he had another opportunity and did not correct it, then I suggested that we jot out a statement for his approval when he finished the news conference.”

Speakes said the White House staff told the President that he had made a mistake. “And he said, ‘I didn’t realize that I did. I was mainly . . . trying not to identify the third country,’ he said, ‘but this statement is fine.’ We read it to him, and then I came over and issued it.”