How does McFarlane [Reagans National Security Adviser] change the equation when he comes in?
Well, McFarlane’s role, interestingly enough, was most significant after he left the White House and he made that trip to Iran with Oliver North and the cake and the key and tried to work out arrangements with the Iranians to get the hostages back. Looking back on this covert operation, the whole premise of it was that there were moderates in the Iranian government who we were dealing with, and somehow this would moderate the Iranians–that it would give this group of people more influence. And we now know there were about four moderates in the Iranian government. And it was a very hair brain scheme. As you look at the Reagan administration’s dealing with terrorist, there’s one theme that jumps right out. And that is the president’s concern and obsession and focus guides everyone. And the Secretary of State, and the CIA Director, and Defense Secretary and the political people in the White House are sitting around the table, and you have a president like Reagan–he obsesses with hostage
