European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - March 1, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse Page 10 a the stars and stripes columns David Johnston Reagan May have Hung Poindexter out to dry Ronald Reagan a videotaped testimony endangers a Central defense Contention in the upcoming trial of John m. Poindexter that the former president authorized Poindexter a actions in the Iran Contra affair several criminal lawyers said Friday. Some lawyers suggested that the tape May be so damaging that Poindexter a lawyers should consider not using it in the trial despite the former National Security adviser s having sought the testimony in the first place. But Richard w. Beckler the chief defense lawyer disputed the suggestion that he deposition could harm his client. Quot these pundits who say it was not helpful done to understand the Case a he said. Quot we done to say that the president authorized him to do anything illegal because Poindexter did t do anything throughout the eight hour deposition made Public on thursday. Reagan insisted he had instructed his subordinates to remain Quot within the Law Quot had never authorized Poindexter to engage in unlawful acts and did not know the extent of Poindexter a activities at the heart of the criminal charges. Asked by Dan k. Webb a lawyer for the Independent prosecutor whether he Ever told any member of his administration to act a in a manner that would be illegal a Reagan replied a i said that we must whatever we do that we must continue helping the contras but we must do it within the Poindexter a lawyers insist that the deposition is still favourable because on some main issues Reagan expressed support for his former aides actions. Defense lawyers say they plan to play the entire videotape in the trial scheduled to begin March 5. But Michael r. Bromwich a former Iran Contra prosecutor in the trial of Oliver l. North said that Poindexter a lawyers must now confront the reality of the videotaped presence of the former president and that the deposition May prove harmful to the Poindexter defense. Lawyers for North a former National Security Council aide failed in their Effort to compel Reagan a testimony. But Bromwich observed that without Ever having to confront the former president directly about his role they skilfully suggested to the jurors that Reagan had authorized North s actions. A i think in some ways Poindexter is Hurt by having the live video presence of Reagan in the courtroom Quot Bromwich said. Quot North was Able to create a Shado Theo Lippman or. Presidency of Ronald Reagan who charted the path implicitly. People can now see this Guy for what he is. He had Only the most general notion of the policies he North was convicted of three criminal counts last May but acquitted of nine other charges. The judge in the Case ruled there was no evidence that Reagan had approved of North a actions but several jurors interviewed after the trial said they did not believe that North a former lieutenant colonel in the marines could have acted on his own initiative. Poindexter faces five criminal charges including obstructing congressional inquiries and making false statements to Congress about arms sales to Iran and efforts to Aid the nicaraguan rebels despite a congressional ban on such assistance. The release of Reagan a deposition culminated a three month Legal Battle by Poindexter a lawyers to Force the former president to testify. The deposition is Reagan a most extensive commentary on the affair to Date. For Poindexter the Effort to Force Reagan to testify represented a calculated Legal Gamble. If defense lawyers had tried to obtain Reagan a testimony but failed they would have preserved a potentially powerful Issue for an Appeal in the event of Poindexter a conviction. But judge Harold h. Greene a order compelling Reagan a testimony thrust Poindexter a lawyers into a potentially dangerous area of questioning that tested the main thesis of their defense that Poindexter operated under orders from Reagan. Poindexter a lawyers do not assert that Reagan directed his aide to break the Law rather they assert that the former president authorized Poindexter to carry out Iran Contra policies As he saw fit. At times Reagan a general comments in his deposition appeared beneficial to Poindexter but in some of his specific statements the former presidents unfamiliarity with the details of his aides activities seemed to suggest he did not know enough about his own policies to approve of Poindexter a actions to put them into practice. At one Point Reagan acknowledged the accuracy of one of his written answers provided under oath to the Independent prosecutor for use before the Federal grand jury investigating the Iran Contra affair. The release of the deposition marked the first time the written statements have been made Public. A it was the consistent policy of my administration to advocate the support of the Freedom lighters a Reagan said referring to the rebels. A thus administration officials were generally authorized to implement that Reagan also agreed with the language of an August 1986 letter from Poindexter to members of Congress that minimized North a activities to help the contras including arms Money and military advice. The letter is the basis for a portion of one false statement charge against Poindexter. A i am in total agreement a Reagan said of the letter. A if i had written it myself i might have used a Little but Reagan later admitted he did not approve the letter at the time it was sent did not know enough about North a actions to determine whether the letter was accurate and would not have authorized the letter if he had known it was false. C tiie new York times Brown could be the democrats ticket in �?T92 without a substantial advantage among roman Catholic voters. Democrats can twin the presidency. Republicans have denied them that advantage lately. It May be that Only a Catholic democratic candidate can bring the flock Back into the fold. In a recent column i named some All with liabilities. One was sen. Ted Kennedy. He could do Well if California moves its presidential primary from june to Early March in 1992. Such a contest would be an expensive proposition. The state is so big. Kennedy can raise Money and he could also run there with less expenditure of Money than any other candidate on the National scene. He a Well known has Star Quality and is As Liberal As they come. He is one of a very few democrats who could afford a California Campaign and have Money in the Bank for the next big states. But he a from the Northeast that Brand of liberalism is not acceptable in the nation. You have to do Well in the South and West to get elected. Teddy could easily win the nomination but not the White House. Is there no Southern Liberal Catholic none that you be Ever heard of. How about a Western one yes. Does the name Jerry Brown ring a familiar Bell it should. Maryland voted for him in the 1976 presidential primary. He a a vote getter. Like his father before him Brown was elected governor of California twice. He beat Jimmy Carter in several presidential primaries. Now he chairs the California democratic party and it will endorse him in the 1992 presidential primary he is said to be considering a favorite son Campaign As a prelude to a full fledged National Campaign. If there is an Early primary he might win with almost no expenditure a and by so doing raise so much Money to run elsewhere that the democratic race would be no contest. I m not sure that will happen but 1 am sure California politicians will Benefit nationally if the state moves its primary. It has always been a major player in National politics. In eight of the last 11 presidential elections there was a californian on the Republican ticket. It won six of the eight. Are you paying attention democrats an Early primary there would give Home states a head Start in both parties. Would a Jerry Brown be More acceptable than a Kennedy in the South and West in november perhaps. He a More Liberal in some ways and he a More out of the mainstream As conventionally defined. But he is from the Sun Belt which is constantly redefining the mainstream. Done to be surprised if you see a Brown on the democratic ticket in 1992 or 1996. Of �9ur?e� May not be Jerry. It May be Kathleen. She s his sister. She a expected to be elected state treasurer this year. She is already being praised for combining her Brothers fabled visionary intellect with her fathers stoned political Charm. That May be just the combination to Lead the democrats into the 21st Century. C the Baltimore Sun
