Memo Reveals Attempt to Brief Bush on Contra Aid : But Aides Say Subject Was Avoided

A former CIA agent wanted to meet Vice President George Bush in May, 1986, to discuss “resupply of the contras, “ according to a memorandum released today, raising the question of whether Bush knew of such activities at an earlier date than he has contended.

Bush, the front-runner for the Republican 1988 presidential nomination, has acknowledged his relationship with the former agent, Felix Rodriguez, but has steadfastly maintained that he knew nothing about private efforts to provide arms to the Nicaraguan rebels at a time when such aid was banned by Congress.

The memo, dated April 30, 1986, noted that Rodriguez was coming to Washington from Central America and was to meet briefly with Bush on May 1. Under a section titled, “Purpose,” the document states:

“Felix Rodriguez, a counterinsurgency expert who is visiting from El Salvador, will provide a briefing on the status of the war in El Salvador and resupply of the contras.”

May-June Testimony

The document was released today by the congressional Iran-contra investigating committees, along with transcripts of depositions taken from three members of Bush’s staff. The testimony was given in May and June.

Phyllis Byrne, a secretary in Bush’s office who typed the memo, said the language was given her by Col. Samuel J. Watson, a national security aide to Bush. The memo was of the type that was routinely prepared for presentation to Bush to get him ready for meetings, she said.

It was not known whether Bush ever saw the document, and members of the Iran-contra committees have not interviewed the vice president.

In depositions, Watson as well as Donald Gregg, a former CIA agent and Bush’s national security adviser, said they could not recall the language in the memo. Watson said he was “almost positive” that the subject of the contras never came up at the May 1 session with Bush, and Gregg was even more emphatic.

‘Immoral Profits’ Feared

“There was no intention to discuss contra resupply, nor was contra resupply discussed in the 1 May meeting,” Gregg testified.

Watson also told of an Aug. 8, 1986, meeting of himself, Gregg and Rodriguez, at which Rodriguez complained of the quality and trustworthiness of people retained by Lt. Col. Oliver L. North to run the contra resupply operation. Rodriguez worried that the group, led by retired Air Force Maj. Gen. Richard V. Secord, might be “making immoral profits” from dealings with the contras.

Watson said he sensed from his conversation with Rodriguez that North was “chairman of the board” of the operation, and Secord the “chief operating officer.”

Steve Hart, Bush’s acting press secretary, said the depositions by Gregg and Watson did nothing to change Bush’s version of events.

‘Didn’t Need to Know’

Asked why neither Gregg nor Watson told Bush about their suspicions of North, Hart said the two men “felt that the vice president didn’t need to know.” Gregg gives Bush information only about things “he considers to be worthy” of the vice president’s attention, and this wasn’t one of them, Hart said.

The newly released documents also included a handwritten note from Bush to North on Nov. 27, 1985, one year before North was fired for his Iran-contra activities.

Mentioning the Thanksgiving holiday, Bush wrote: “One of the many things I have to be thankful for is the way in which you have performed, under fire, in tough situations. Your dedication and tireless work with the hostage thing and with Central America really gives me cause for great pride in you and Thanks.”