Bush Had Reservations but Backed Iran Deal: Reagan

President Reagan said through his spokesman today that Vice President George Bush did express reservations to him about the Iran arms sales initiative “but always supported the policy and the decisions.”

The statement came as leaders in both political parties said Bush’s bid for the Republican presidential nomination faced new complications after Reagan’s comment Thursday night that Bush had raised no objection to the Iran initiative.

White House spokesman Marlin Fitzwater said Reagan and Bush discussed the matter briefly at their regular daily meeting this morning.

“The President told me simply that the vice president did express reservations to him but always supported the policy and the decisions,” Fitzwater said.

News Conference Question

The issue arose at the conclusion of the President’s nationally broadcast news conference Thursday night, when Reagan was approached by reporters trying to get in a last question or two.

“Did the vice president object to the plan in Iran?” Reagan was asked.

“No,” he replied.

Fitzwater said he saw no conflict between that exchange and Bush’s assertion that he had “expressed certain reservations” about the secret sales of arms to Iran.

Satisfied With Bush Advice

Reagan, asked today at a signing ceremony whether he is satisfied with Bush’s advice, replied, “Always have been.”

In Salem, N.H., meanwhile, Bush’s leading rival for the GOP nomination, Senate Minority Leader Bob Dole (R-Kan.), said, “As far as I’m concerned, the vice president’s word is good enough for me.”

However, earlier in the day, Sen. Sam Nunn (D-Ga.), chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said, “I think Vice President Bush probably is going to have to speak to the subject again.”

“The vice president had not said in the past where he made his reservations known and the President indicated they had not been known to him,” Nunn said during an appearance on NBC-TV’s “Today” program. “That did not mean (Bush) had not made reservations known somewhere else.”

‘Always in Difficult Position’

Rep. Dick Cheney (R-Wyo.), vice chairman of the House committee investigating the Iran- contra scandal, added, “The vice president is always in a very difficult position, in any circumstances, even without this controversy.”