‘Ain’t No Smoking Gun’ in Iran Deal--Reagan

President Reagan declared today that “there ain’t no smoking gun” to prove he knew about the diversion of Iranian arms-sale money to the Nicaraguan rebels.

Reagan also maintained that the congressional spotlight on the Iran- contra affair is growing dim and said people “have gone back to their favorite television shows.”

Reagan, who traveled to Capitol Hill to talk with Senate Republicans, was asked about a comment by Rep. Lee H. Hamilton (D-Ind.), chairman of the House committee investigating the scandal, who said that if there was evidence Reagan had seen the so-called diversion memo outlining plans to divert Iranian arms sale profits to the contras, it could lead to impeachment proceedings.

‘Exceedingly Serious’

Hamilton said on ABC’s “This Week With David Brinkley”: “I think if that memo had reached the hands of the President and he had approved it, that would be the smoking gun. I don’t have any doubt at all that that kind of evidence would be exceedingly serious for the President.”

When asked about Hamilton’s statement as he headed into his Capitol Hill luncheon, Reagan took a few more steps, then stopped, paused, and exclaimed, “There ain’t no smoking gun.”

On leaving the GOP lunch, Reagan was asked again about the memo and he said, “I have stated repeatedly I never saw any such memorandum. I never saw it.”

Earlier, in a news conference with regional reporters, Reagan rejected suggestions that he might be trying to divert the spotlight from the scandal by focusing attention on his battle with Congress over the budget.

Spotlight Dimmer Now

“I think that spotlight has been growing so dim in recent days that when you get a mile and a half away from the Potomac River, an awful lot of people have gone back to their favorite television shows and I don’t blame them,” the President said.

“I have never heard so much hearsay in all my life that wouldn’t be permitted in a courtroom for a minute and a half and it’s taken as gospel by those who want to go farther with this.”

White House Chief of Staff Howard H. Baker Jr. also was asked about the so-called diversion memo today. He said flatly:

“The President did not receive that memo. The President did not know of that memo and I believe he will tell you that, and I don’t believe there will be any evidence to the contrary because there is no evidence.”