Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, April 3, 1990 TAG: 9004030375
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: KEVIN KITTREDGE SHENANDOAH BUREAU
DATELINE: LEXINGTON LENGTH: Medium
In a speech that drew a standing-room-only crowd to a 1,500-seat auditorium on the W&L campus, the Iran-Contra scandal figure also applauded recent political changes in Europe and Central America.
"The tens of millions of people who lived in what truly was an `evil empire' have risen up to throw off the yoke of oppression," the controversial former U.S. Marine told a largely sympathetic crowd. "In spite of all the victories, it's important that we keep our eyes open and the powder dry."
North drew two standing ovations from a crowd that included his daughter, Tait - a W&L student - and his wife, Betsy.
A Texas native educated at the U.S. Naval Academy, North received several medals and commendations for his service with the Marines in Vietnam before his role in the scandal pushed him into the national spotlight.
The one-time member of the National Security Council staff was convicted May 4 of three felonies - altering and destroying official documents, accepting an illegal gratuity and aiding and abetting in the obstruction of Congress. All charges arose from the Reagan administration's secret arms sales to Nicaragua and the diversion of some of the proceeds to anti-government rebels in Nicaragua.
"I'm not ashamed of anything I did," North said Monday night.
In his 45-minute speech and a short question period, North urged students to fight voter apathy, drug abuse and illiteracy, and to leave the comfort of suburban homes and visit the inner cities.
"The next time you go to [Washington] D.C., don't spend the whole day in Georgetown," said North, referring to the strip of trendy clothing stores and upscale nightclubs near Georgetown University. "Take a drive through northeast, or through southeast. But do it in daylight."
North also praised recent election results in Nicaragua, warned against placing too much trust in the Soviet Union, said Fidel Castro's "days are numbered," lambasted Congress as "a retirement home for career politicians," and played variations around the central theme of his speech, "Freedom."
"America," North said at one point, "is the fountainhead of the liberty so many strive for."
During the question-and-answer period, one man said, "My wife and I are going to remember you a long long time after the persecutors and the prosecutors have been forgotten."
An audience of W&L students, area residents, Virginia Military Institute cadets and members of the media filled the 1,200 bleachers and 300 temporary seats at W&L's Warner Center to hear North speak.
North's speech was sponsored by Contact, a student-run organization that has also sponsored speeches this year by Rolling Stone writer P.J. O'Rourke and Fred Barnes of The New Republic.
He said the group, which has an annual budget of $31,000, learned through North's daughter, Tait, that the ex-Marine colonel was interested in speaking at W&L. Tompkins declined to reveal how much North was paid.
by CNB