Reagan Concedes That Aides Made ‘Mistakes’ on Iran

President Reagan on Saturday once again defended his policy of opening secret contacts with Iran, but for the first time he admitted that “mistakes were made” by aides carrying out that policy and called its execution “flawed.”

“I pledge to you, I will set things right,” Reagan said in his weekly radio address, delivered from Camp David, Md. It was the sixth public statement he has delivered on his Administration’s clandestine arms deals with Iran during three weeks of mounting public clamor they have aroused.

The President promised to make public all facts as they become known and said that if illegal acts were undertaken “those who did so will be brought to justice.”

“We live in a country that requires we operate within rules and laws--all of us,” Reagan said.

Supports Sales to Iran

Only a week ago a published newsmagazine interview quoted Reagan as lashing out at the press and Congress for fabricating an uproar. Since then, as poll results showed his popularity plummeting and as close associates implored him to regain control of the situation, Reagan has urged appointment of an independent counsel to investigate the matter, has named a special board to review operations of the National Security Council staff, and has chosen a respected former official, Frank C. Carlucci, as his new national security adviser.

Reagan went a step further Saturday, nearing the brink of the confession of error widely demanded of him by political opponents and supporters alike. He continued to support the policy of selling arms to Iran, however, again refusing to characterize it as one of swapping arms as ransom for American hostages held in Lebanon by groups thought to be backed by the Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini’s regime in Iran.

“And while we are still seeking all the facts, it’s obvious that the execution of these policies was flawed, and mistakes were made,” Reagan said. “Let me just say it was not my intent to do business with Khomeini, to trade weapons for hostages, to undercut our policy of anti-terrorism.”

He added: “I know the stories of the past few weeks have been distressing. I am deeply disappointed this initiative has resulted in such a controversy. And I regret it’s caused such concern and consternation. But I pledge to you, I will set things right. That’s what I’m doing now.”

Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole (R-Kan.) welcomed Reagan’s concessions. “I believe when Ronald Reagan says, as he has now done publicly, that mistakes were made, that will go a long way in laying to rest some of the criticism,” Dole said in a statement. “It will also help his credibility with the American people.

“I think he’s sticking by his policy of improving relations with Iran,” Dole said. He added that he believes Reagan’s reference to “mistakes” being made implies that the President shares blame, that “the President knows that the buck stops at his desk.”

Thomas P. (Tip) O’Neill Jr. (D-Mass.), the retiring House Speaker, renewed his call on Reagan to condemn the policies that have brought his Administration to near crisis--both the contacts with Iran and the diversion of some Iranian funds to help supply anti-Sandinista forces in Nicaragua during the period before Congress approved $100 million in military aid for them.

“The American people did not build this country to what it is today so that the arsenal of democracy would become the arsenal of the ayatollah,” O’Neill said in the Democrats’ weekly radio reply to Reagan, which was taped a day earlier.

In some degree, Reagan’s statement Saturday picked up a conciliatory theme first sounded last Wednesday in a speech by Vice President George Bush--a speech, cleared beforehand by Reagan and approved by him, which conceded that mistakes had been committed.

“There can be no denying,” Bush said in that speech, “that our credibility has been damaged by this entire episode and its aftermath, specifically, allegations about certain activities of the National Security Council staff. Clearly, mistakes were made. Our policy of conducting dialogue with Iran, which was legitimate and arguable, has become entangled with the separate matter of this NSC investigation,” Bush said in a departure from his prepared text.

After the Bush speech, which like Reagan’s Saturday radio address blamed the execution of the policy but not the policy itself, White House spokesman Larry Speakes told reporters that Reagan agreed mistakes had been made.

But Saturday’s address still gave the impression that Reagan believes the episode has been at best misunderstood, at worst blown out of proportion by forces out of his control--the Iranians, the press, perhaps officials in his own Administration.

“I realize you must be disappointed and probably confused with all the furor of the last couple of weeks,” Reagan told his radio listeners. “You must be asking: ‘What were we doing in the Middle East? What was our policy? Where was it wrong? Were we engaged in some kind of shenanigans that blew up in our face?’ I can understand if these are the questions you’re asking, and I’d like to provide some answers.”

Then, as he had in his first attempt to turn off the controversy with an Oval Office statement just over three weeks ago, Reagan offered a defense of the Iran contact as a risk worth taking that even bore a measure of success.

“Individuals in Iran”--also described as “responsible elements”--sought out a contact with an Administration representative, Reagan said, adding that he assented to such a meeting.

“And even though these were responsible elements in Iran that might be able to assist us in stopping the violence and possibly helping us get back the hostages being held in Lebanon, there was a risk involved,” he said. “But I believed then and believe now there was a greater risk in doing nothing--of not trying.

“We had some notable success. There was some reduction in terrorism, and three of our hostages were released one at a time, and others were about to follow. Then someone in the government of Iran leaked information about our contacts . . . to a newspaper in Lebanon. You know the rest: This effort to establish a relationship with responsible moderates in Iran came to light and was broken off.”

Then after conceding that flaws and mistakes were made and reciting the steps taken so far to bring the episode under control and bring all remaining facts to light, Reagan repeated his pledge to “cooperate fully with the Congress as they undertake their proper review.” He added:

“If illegal acts were undertaken in the implementation of our policy, those who did so will be brought to justice.

“If actions in implementing my policy were taken without my authorization, knowledge or concurrence, this will be exposed, and appropriate corrective steps will be implemented.

“I will continue to make all the facts known surrounding this matter. We live in a country that requires we operate within rules and laws--all of us. Just cause and deep concern and noble ends can never be reason enough to justify improper actions or excessive means.”