Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, October 5, 1994 TAG: 9410050117
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE:
DATELINE: FALLS CHURCH LENGTH: Medium
``First of all, I did not lie to Congress,'' North said in answering questions from high school government students. ``The press said I lied, but the jury said I didn't.''
The Republican nominee was found guilty of destroying documents about the Iran-Contra arms-for-hostages deal, accepting an illegal gratuity and aiding in the obstruction of Congress. An appeals court later overturned the convictions because his trial may have been tainted by testimony he gave Congress under immunity.
North told about 200 students he was following orders in the Iran-Contra scandal.
The former Marine colonel admitted during his trial that he told lies in a White House meeting with the House Intelligence Committee in August 1986.
In his book ``Under Fire,'' North described how he gave evasive answers: `` ... I tried to avoid telling outright lies. But I certainly wasn't telling the truth.''
North also conceded to reporters after the high school event that he had misled Congress during the Iran-Contra investigation.
``I acknowledged in an informal, off-the-record meeting with a handful of members of one committee and some staff that I had not told them everything they wanted to know,'' North said after the speech.
`` ... Unfortunately, the press has reported that Ollie North was convicted of lying to Congress and was convicted of lying under oath at times, and I wanted to make sure those kids knew the difference.''
Students also asked North about his defense of the Confederate flag two weeks ago during a campaign stop in Danville. North said then that the flag was a symbol of Virginia's heritage and labeled its opponents ``politically correct.''
Ava McIntyre, a 17-year-old senior, asked North how she and other blacks offended by the flag should view his statement.
``What was reported was not what I said, and I'm glad to have the chance to clarify it,'' North said. ``I was asked by a reporter afterward how I felt about the Confederate flag that flies occasionally over a museum in Danville.
``My response was I did not believe that was an issue for the United States Senate ... if that community, or this state or any other state thought that it was important to their heritage, the federal government ought not to be intruding on that.''
North also told the students Tuesday that he is anti-abortion and proud of it, and said Democratic incumbent Sen. Charles Robb wants public-funded abortion on demand and supports abortion into the final month of pregnancy.
``That's wrong. Robb supports Roe vs. Wade, which is existing law,'' said Robb spokeswoman Peggy Wilhide.
Existing law permits abortions only through the second trimester, or first six months, of a pregnancy. It permits abortions after that only when the mother's health is endangered.
``Throughout his adult life, Oliver North has displayed a pattern of not being able to tell the truth,'' Robb said in a prepared statement. ``He lives in Ollie's world.''
Keywords:
POLITICS
Memo: NOTE: Shorter version ran in Metro edition.