NATION IN BRIEF : WASHINGTON, D.C. : Poindexter Turns Up the Heat on Reagan

Iran-Contra defendant John M. Poindexter charged that the legal strategy pursued by former President Ronald Reagan to quash a subpoena for his diaries was calculated to avoid political criticism. Poindexter’s lawyers challenged both Reagan and President Bush to invoke executive privilege in their attempts to quash subpoenas for the former President’s diaries and papers. “Obviously their legal position is carefully calculated to avoid subjecting them to the political consequences of their invoking the privilege, including the consequent public perception that Mr. Reagan and Mr. Bush are still attempting to hide the true facts . . . ,” Poindexter’s lawyers said. Poindexter is accused of lying to Congress about his involvement in the arms-for-hostages deals and covert assistance to Nicaraguan rebels.