
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, November 11, 1993                   TAG: 9311110104
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: WARREN FISKE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND                                LENGTH: Medium

OLIVER NORTH PUSHING VIETNAM BOOK

Oliver North, the all-but-announced Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate next year, is embarking on a monthlong national tour to promote his new book.

"One More Mission" is an account of North's military service in Vietnam in the late 1960s and his return there for a visit this year. Published by HarperCollins, the book went on sale Tuesday.

A spokeswoman for North said the former Marine will promote the book Monday night on "Larry King Live" on CNN and Tuesday morning on NBC's "Today" show. He also is to appear next week on nationally syndicated radio shows with Rush Limbaugh and G. Gordon Liddy.

North is expected to formally announce his Senate candidacy in January, shortly after the book tour ends.

Joe Elton, a political adviser to North, said release of the book was not timed to coincide with the start of his campaign, but he acknowledged that the publicity from the book can only help North's political efforts. "A little exposure never hurts," he said.

North is seeking to unseat Democratic Sen. Charles Robb. Gov. Douglas Wilder, a longtime Robb adversary, has indicated he will challenge Robb's renomination in the spring.

A spokeswoman for HarperCollins said the company is spending "a hefty" $175,000 to promote the book.

"One More Mission" is North's second book in recent years. His first, "Under Fire, An American Story," was an account of North's role in the Iran-Contra scandal. The book was a No. 1 best seller that made North a millionaire overnight.

In the first part of "One More Mission," North recounts his combat experiences as a Marine lieutenant in Vietnam in 1969. In the second part, he writes about revisiting the country last winter and finding hospitals and orphanages in deplorable condition.

He calls for public support of several Christian agencies trying to improve medical conditions in the country, saying they offer "Americans a chance to heal our own wounds from the Vietnam War."

A camera crew accompanied North on his journey to Vietnam. A spokeswoman for HarperCollins said North hopes to produce a television documentary.

Keywords:
POLITICS

by CNB