Several weeks later "The Washington Post" linked Iran's release of three American hostages to American arms sales to Iran.George went on television to defend the administration.He declared that any arms-for-hostages deal was "inconceivable."
The next day,Secretary of State George Shultz called the Vice President and reminded him that not only had Bush attended the critical meeting on January 7,1986,but had also supported the plan to sell arms to Iran--the same plan that Shultz and Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger had opposed. Shultz could have shown George the notes he had taken during the meeting,which proved his point.When Bush realized that Shultz had been taking notes,he was flabbergasted,and he wrote in his diary:
"Howard Baker in the presence of the President told me today that George Shultz had kept 700 pages of personal notes,dictated to his staff...Notes on personal meetings he had with the President.I found this almost inconceivable.Not only that he kept the notes,but that he had turned them all over to Congress...I would never do it.I would never surrender such documents and I wouldn't keep such detailed notes."
On November 11,1986,President Reagan announced on national television that he had authorized the sale of arms to Iran.But he denied that it was a trade for hostages.
A few days later Attorney General Ed Meese undertook an investigation to determine giw much of a problem the US arms shipment to Iran was going to be for the administration.Within four days,Meese found that $10-$30 million from te arms sale to Iran had been diverted to the contras through Swiss bank accounts.The President was forced to fire Oliver North...
The Iran-contra scandal continued to unfold over the next two years but thee Vice President,who had become adroit at what he called "bending" and stretching" the truth,ducked and dodged and fenced and hedged,He lied more than once to reporters during press conferences and frequently equivocated.He stonewalled the Office of Independent Counsel and he withheld all of his personal diaries until after he left government service and was outside the reach of the special prosecutor.
During the 1986 Christmas holiday Donald Gregg and his wife threw a party which the Vice President and Barbara attended along with Bush's staff lawyer G.Boyden Gray...
"They felt really pleased with themselves that evening.They had usurped the power that were in place.They were above the law.They were going to pill their plan off.They enjoyed the secret they had together, It was a huge rush for them."
--Excerpted from "The Family" by Kitty Kelley
The next day,Secretary of State George Shultz called the Vice President and reminded him that not only had Bush attended the critical meeting on January 7,1986,but had also supported the plan to sell arms to Iran--the same plan that Shultz and Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger had opposed. Shultz could have shown George the notes he had taken during the meeting,which proved his point.When Bush realized that Shultz had been taking notes,he was flabbergasted,and he wrote in his diary:
"Howard Baker in the presence of the President told me today that George Shultz had kept 700 pages of personal notes,dictated to his staff...Notes on personal meetings he had with the President.I found this almost inconceivable.Not only that he kept the notes,but that he had turned them all over to Congress...I would never do it.I would never surrender such documents and I wouldn't keep such detailed notes."
On November 11,1986,President Reagan announced on national television that he had authorized the sale of arms to Iran.But he denied that it was a trade for hostages.
A few days later Attorney General Ed Meese undertook an investigation to determine giw much of a problem the US arms shipment to Iran was going to be for the administration.Within four days,Meese found that $10-$30 million from te arms sale to Iran had been diverted to the contras through Swiss bank accounts.The President was forced to fire Oliver North...
The Iran-contra scandal continued to unfold over the next two years but thee Vice President,who had become adroit at what he called "bending" and stretching" the truth,ducked and dodged and fenced and hedged,He lied more than once to reporters during press conferences and frequently equivocated.He stonewalled the Office of Independent Counsel and he withheld all of his personal diaries until after he left government service and was outside the reach of the special prosecutor.
During the 1986 Christmas holiday Donald Gregg and his wife threw a party which the Vice President and Barbara attended along with Bush's staff lawyer G.Boyden Gray...
"They felt really pleased with themselves that evening.They had usurped the power that were in place.They were above the law.They were going to pill their plan off.They enjoyed the secret they had together, It was a huge rush for them."
--Excerpted from "The Family" by Kitty Kelley