Claims Vote for Kennedy, but Was 17 in ’60 : North Ignores Taunts at Boston College

Oliver L. North, the stoic former Marine, ignored angry taunts, abusive banners and constant interruptions and praised the virtues of free speech in an address at Boston College.

After a month of controversy over his scheduled appearance, North quipped Wednesday night about his $25,000 honorarium, hinted that he might someday seek public office and claimed that he voted for John F. Kennedy in 1960--when he was 17 and even 18-year-olds did not yet have the vote.

The former National Security Council staffer, indicted for his role in the Iran-Contra affair, received a minute-long standing ovation and wild support from a crowd that jeered the hecklers and chanted, “U.S.A., U.S.A., U.S.A.,” as police dragged demonstrators from a campus gym.

“In a previous occupation, I could have gotten combat pay for this,” said North, who was protected by a phalanx of police.

But he stared at his notes when a melee broke out in the crowd and was even-tempered when a protester yelled “He’s a drug runner!” and another tossed a placard bearing a swastika and called North a fascist.

“I quite honestly resent the label of fascist,” North said. “My father was terribly wounded in the war against the fascists.”

There were no arrests, but police forcibly removed six people from the crowd of about 4,000, who paid $7 each to hear North.

As North spoke, a group outside the building estimated at about 2,000 protested his appearance, chanting: “Ollie North has got to go! Boston College, just say no!”

Another group of 250 Republican students from Boston area campuses countered the anti-North cries with calls for renewed aid for the Contras.

With his voice cracking as it did during the televised Iran-Contra hearings, North, wearing a dark suit and red tie, quoted Thomas Jefferson, Winston Churchill and Kennedy--”the first President I was blessed to vote for.”

But North was born Oct. 7, 1943, which would have made him just 17 when Kennedy was elected in 1960. Eighteen-year-olds could not vote until 1971.