PBS's Regan timeline & Iran-Contra/HUD CONVICTIONS

[underpants]

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/reagan/timeline/index_5.html

1987

February 2: Reagan testifies to the Tower Board for a second time. His testimony is inconsistent and confused. The Board pointed out Reagan hadn’t known about August shipment of anti-tank missiles, but Reagan had said he DID know. When asked for an explanation, Reagan picked up a briefing memo he had been provided and read aloud: "If the question comes up at the Tower Board meeting, you might want to say that you were surprised."

February 20: A Reagan memo to the Tower Board reads: "I don’t remember, period." "I’m trying to recall events that happened eighteen months ago, I’m afraid that I let myself be influenced by others’ recollections, not my own.... The only honest answer is to state that try as I might, I cannot recall anything whatsoever about whether I approved an Israeli sale in advance or whether I approved replenishment of Israeli stocks around August of 1985. My answer therefore and the simple truth is, ‘I don’t remember, period.’"

February 26: The Tower Commission report is delivered to Reagan. The report could not link Reagan to diversion of funds from Iran to the Contras. But it concluded that Reagan, confused and unaware, allowed himself to be misled by dishonest staff members who organized the trade of arms to Iran for hostages held in Lebanon and pursued a secret war against the Nicaraguan government. The report charges that Reagan had failed to "insist upon accountability & performance review, " allowing the National Security Council process to collapse. Reagan’s approval rating is down to 42%.

March 4: On national television, Reagan acknowledges mistakes on Iran-Contra. "A few months ago I told the American people I did not trade arms for hostages. My heart and my best intentions tell me that’s true, but the facts and evidence tell me it is not. As the Tower Board reported, what began as a strategic opening to Iran deteriorated, in its implementation, into trading arms for hostages. This runs counter to my own beliefs, to administration policy, and to the original strategy we had in mind. There are reasons why it happened, but no excuses. It was a mistake." Reagan’s approval rating rebounds to 51%.

http://www.bushtimes.com/cgi-bin/iowa/news/record.html?record=1278

Reagan administration era convictions in the Iran-contra scandal:
14 (two overturned on appeal) Reagan official convicted for illegal lobbying: 1 (Lyn Nofziger, White House political director) Reagan officials convicted in Housing and Urban Development scandal: 16
Total Reagan era convictions: 31
Bush I pardons of those indicted and/or convicted of Iran-contra crimes: 7 (5 convicted, one about to receive sentence, Caspar Weinberger about o stand trial)
Bush II official appointed to National Security Council who plead guilty to ran-contra crime and was pardoned by Bush I: 1 (Elliot Abrams)