Where The Buck Finally Stops

The Iran-contra committees lay the blame on the President

The President's responsibility is firmly fixed in the Constitution: "He shall take care that the laws be faithfully executed." In a stinging 450-page report certain to trigger heated controversy, a majority of the congressional Iran-contra committees this week will charge that Ronald Reagan failed to fulfill that solemn obligation. Says Warren Rudman, the feisty New Hampshire Senator who was one of three Republicans to join the 18-member majority: "The report deals with the responsibilities of the presidency, and I think it's fair."

During the hearings on the sordid Iranian and contra deals this summer, members of the committees were able to...

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