Reagan Vows to ‘Stand on Roof, Yell’ for Contra Aid

President Reagan said today he will “stand on the roof and yell” for aid to Nicaraguan rebels, while a Republican congressional leader said he believes that Lt. Col. Oliver L. North has improved chances that further assistance will be approved.

Reagan, asked by a reporter whether he planned to ask for more funds for the Nicaraguan guerrillas, said: “I think my position is well-known. . . . I think the most decent thing this country can do is to continue to aid the freedom fighters.”

He said he could not give any figures, but that “I’m going to ask that they continue to support the contras .”

Asked how he was going to make his views known, the President said, “Stand on the roof and yell.”

Reagan maintained his silence on the Iran-contra hearings, but he told reporters during an Oval Office picture-taking session before meeting with GOP congressional leaders that once the proceedings have ended, “you won’t be able to shut me up.”

After the meeting, House GOP Whip Trent Lott of Mississippi said no figures for renewed contra aid were discussed. But he said North’s testimony had given the cause a boost.

“He has been able to get across some points to the American people on television, as to why we are involved in Central America and why we have been trying to assist the democratic resistance, that we had not been able to get across in other ways,” Lott told reporters.

“We think we have some potential votes that we can get for it that we haven’t gotten in the past.”

White House spokesman Marlin Fitzwater said the Administration is considering increasing its request for $105 million in the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1 to a larger amount over 18 months, which would extend the aid two months into the next Administration.

The spokesman said no figure had been decided upon, but he mentioned $125 million and up to $140 million as possibilities. Fitzwater said a report that the Administration might ask for $300 million was “pretty high.”

He said Reagan will speak out on the issue, but it had not been decided what form his advocacy will take.

Fitzwater also said he believed that the testimony of North and of other witnesses at the Iran-contra hearings has increased backing for contra aid and “some private polling does show increased support.” He declined to give any figures.