In Switch, Dole Backs North and Contributes to Campaign

Four days after snubbing Oliver L. North’s candidacy, Senate Minority Leader Bob Dole (R-Kan.) bestowed an endorsement and a $5,000 campaign contribution on his party’s nominee for a Senate seat from Virginia.

“I told Ollie that I will do everything possible to assist in his election to the U.S. Senate,” Dole said Thursday in a brief statement issued after a meeting with North. “Including, of course, campaigning for him in Virginia.”

Dole’s comments marked a change from Sunday, the day after North won his party’s convention to challenge Democratic Sen. Charles S. Robb in November. Asked in an interview if Republicans should unite behind North, Dole replied: “I think it’s going to take a while to sort that out.”

North issued a statement saying he and Dole had a “very productive, cordial meeting this morning. I welcome his full support and look forward to having him join me on the campaign trail in the near future.”

North’s campaign office disclosed the $5,000 contribution from Dole’s political action committee.

North trails Robb in public opinion polls in a race that shapes up as one of the most volatile in the country. Former Democratic Gov. L. Douglas Wilder and former GOP Atty. Gen. J. Marshall Coleman may file as independent candidates.

The controversy surrounding North dates from his involvement in the Iran-Contra scandal of the Ronald Reagan Administration. As a Marine serving on the National Security Council staff, North was a key player in the affair, and was later convicted of aiding and abetting the obstruction of Congress by helping prepare misleading statements for other officials. His conviction was set aside on appeal.