McFarlane Says Deaver Sought Summit Success

Former National Security Adviser Robert C. McFarlane testified under cross-examination Tuesday that Michael K. Deaver’s only interest in appointing an acid rain envoy was to ensure a successful summit between President Reagan and Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney.

McFarlane was asked about his earlier testimony that Deaver, when deputy White House chief of staff in 1985, endorsed the idea of a special envoy to Canada on the divisive environmental issue.

Deaver is charged with five counts of lying to a House subcommittee and a grand jury that investigated the lobbying business he formed after he left the White House in May, 1985. Deaver signed a $105,000 lobbying contract with the Canadian government shortly after he left the White House.

Didn’t Remember Call

Among other things, Deaver is charged with lying when he said he could not recall participating in discussions about the appointment of an acid rain envoy. He also is accused of lying when he said he could not recall telephoning former Transportation Secretary Drew Lewis the day Reagan appointed Lewis as the envoy.

Meanwhile, former White House Chief of Staff Donald T. Regan testified that he “hit the overhead” when he learned about a South Korean official’s appointment to see the President, a meeting apparently arranged by Deaver.

Regan said that when he discovered that trade envoy Kim Ki Hwan was on Reagan’s appointments schedule, Regan said: “The President doesn’t have time for that, get him off the schedule.”

Letter on Trade

Among the perjury charges against Deaver is the allegation that he lied in congressional testimony by denying that he helped to arrange Kim’s Oct. 2, 1985, appointment. Kim delivered a letter on trade matters from South Korean President Chun Doo Hwan.

Regan did not tie Deaver to the effort to arrange the two-minute meeting, but he supported the testimony of former National Security Adviser John M. Poindexter, who had said that Deaver asked help in getting the appointment.

Regan also supported the prosecution’s charge that Deaver pushed for the appointment of Lewis.

Tells of Meeting

Deaver supported Lewis during a March 13, 1985, meeting of top White House officials and the President, Regan said.

McFarlane’s testimony had undercut Deaver’s sworn assertions to a grand jury investigating his lobbying for Canada and other clients that he did not participate in discussions about the envoy.