Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, February 18, 1994                   TAG: 9402180186
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: ARLINGTON                                LENGTH: Medium

RETIRED OFFICERS: NORTH NOT FIT FOR SENATE

The group endorsed former Reagan budget director Jim Miller for the Republican Senate nomination in Virginia; they said it was the first time any had spoken for a candidate or been involved in partisan politics.

But "there comes a time" to speak up, said retired Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Ron Beckwith. The men all felt that "we can do better than Oliver North," he said.

Some felt much more strongly than that about the former Marine lieutenant colonel, a key figure in the Iran-Contra scandal that stained the Reagan administration.

"From personal experience, I would say that Oliver North's negatives are his inability to differentiate between reality and his fantasies," said retired Army Maj. Gen. John Singlaub, a Miller campaign official who, along with North, helped arm the rebel Nicaraguan Contras during a congressional ban on such aid.

Retired Navy Capt. Jim Spagnole said North "perhaps made mistakes . . . and when called to task, he conveniently donned his uniform and attempted to use his uniform as a shield and a buttress to his credibility. That rankles a lot of us."

Retired Army Gen. Fritz Kroesen, the highest-ranking official at the announcement, said he had no animosity toward North, but "being notorious does not make one qualified for being senator."

North's campaign dismissed the retired military brass as Washington insiders. Spokesman Mark Merritt accused Miller of trying to cut veterans benefits when he was budget director and of using the military officers to draw attention away from his own lack of a military record.

"He took four education deferments to avoid service in Vietnam," Merritt said in a statement.

Beckwith said Miller's lack of service "has not been an issue."

He said Miller was married and in college when he was 19 years old. He also said Miller applied to the Air Force Academy but was rejected because he is colorblind.

Virginia Republicans will choose their Senate nominee at a Richmond convention June 3-4.

Thirteen of the 14 military officials who endorsed Miller on Thursday are delegates to the convention, as are some of their wives.

North's main base of support is the religious right. He is favored to win the nomination.

Incumbent Democrat Charles Robb is seeking a renomination in a June 14 primary. He is being challenged in the primary by Sylvia Clute, a Richmond lawyer.

A Washington Post poll released last weekend found that fewer than one-quarter of the voters in the state recognize Miller's name, but it also showed that North would have a hard time beating Robb and suggested voters would like an alternative to both men.

North was convicted of helping cover up the Iran-Contra scandal, but the convictions were overturned on a technicality.

As a member of the National Security Council staff, he arranged arms sales to Iran in hope of gaining hostage releases, then diverted the arms profits to the rebel Nicaraguan Contras during the congressional ban.

Keywords:
POLITICS