‘Haven’t Heard Single Word Laws Were Broken’: Reagan : He’ll Say More at End of Hearings

WASHINGTON â€”  President Reagan said today “I haven’t heard a single wordâ€� of testimony in the Iran- contra hearings to indicate that laws were broken.

Reagan broke his self-imposed silence on the congressional investigation into the scandal during a picture-taking session with visiting President Omar Bongo of Gabon, and told reporters that he intends to deal with the “whole affair when the hearings are over.�

After almost 11 weeks of hearings and nine months of scandal clouds hanging over the White House, Reagan appeared ready to exonerate former aides of wrongdoing but sidestepped a direct question on whether he would grant pardons to ousted national security aides Lt. Col. Oliver L. North and Adm. John M. Poindexter.

Targets of Investigation

Lawyers for both men have said they are targets of a special prosecutor’s investigation.

“I am going to speak out on that whole subject--the subject of this whole affair--when the hearings are over,� Reagan said

“You know, I don’t take questions at these photo opportunities,� he said, “but when you ask a question like that, I haven’t heard a single word that indicated in any of the testimony that laws were broken.�

Witnesses at the Iran-contra hearings have said Reagan knew nothing of the diversion of money generated by U.S. covert arms sales to Iran to American-backed contra rebels in Nicaragua.

Possible Violation Studied

But a special prosecutor is investigating whether a congressional ban on direct or indirect U.S. aid to the contras was violated by White House aides. Legal experts say the arms sales to Iran may also have violated laws regulating arms exports and banning dealings with nations alleged to sponsor international terrorism.

Reagan will break his silence on the scandal in a major speech in early August and announce his plan to campaign for an increase in aid for the Nicaraguan rebels, aides said.

White House spokesman Marlin Fitzwater said that no date has been set for the address. However, it is expected to be nationally televised and delivered from the Oval Office, probably during the week starting Aug. 9 and before he departs on a 25-day California vacation on Aug. 13.

No News Conference

Fitzwater also made it clear Reagan does not intend to have a news conference before the fall to clear up some of the contradictions and unanswered questions concerning his role.

“I don’t know,� he said when asked whether the President will address some of the key points in the hearings.

“He’ll have plenty to say when the hearings are over,� he said.

Fitzwater said that Reagan, who has largely kept quiet as his current and former advisers trooped to Capitol Hill, “wants to voice his opinion on some of the things that have happened.�

“Some of the things he has heard have been hard to digest,� Fitzwater said, adding that “he feels it’s important to give some of his feelings on the hearings and the whole episode.�

‘Eager to Move On’

The President has watched enough to see his top advisers taking the witness stand and revealing their own views of his style of operation and his preoccupation with the fate of the hostages as well as efforts to raise funds for the contras during the period when Congress had cut off aid.

Reagan is “eager to move on,� Fitzwater said, hoping that by September he will be able to focus on rosy prospects for a superpower arms agreement and domestic issues.