Poindexter Picks Politician’s Uniform
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WASHINGTON — Unlike Lt. Col. Oliver L. North, whose highly decorated Marine uniform attracted much attention, Rear Adm. John M. Poindexter appeared before the Iran- contra congressional committees Wednesday wearing the standard uniform of a Washington politician: a dark suit.
Poindexter, saying he tried to make a “clear distinction between the two hats that I wore” while in the White House, explained: “When the President decided in December of 1985 to appoint me as the national security adviser, he gave me a separate commission--a commission essentially as a political appointee.”
However, he noted: “I’m very proud of my uniform, and I’m very proud of the United States Navy. But this issue is not a Navy issue.”
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