THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, October 20, 1994 TAG: 9410200394
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A15 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: Short : 40 lines
Candidate: Oliver North
Title: Finest (30 sec.)
When: Started Wednesday, Oct. 19
Words and Pictures
Text: A former hostage speaks: ``My name is David Jacobsen. For a
year and a half, I was held hostage in Beirut, Lebanon. I was bound
and gagged and beaten and tortured, and for only one reason. I was
an American.
``I know politicians like to point their fingers at Oliver North
about Iran-Contra. But they weren't there; I was. If it wasn't for
Ollie North, I would never have seen my family again. I'm making
this ad because I want you to know Ollie North is one of the finest
men I have ever known.''
Video: Jacobsen speaks directly into the camera. Beneath him
appear the words: Former hostage: 1985-86.
What's the message
After several attack ads, North returns to a testimonial. By
allowing one of the hostages freed in the swap-for-arms with the
Ayatollah Khomeini to speak, North puts a human face on his
contention that Iran-Contra was all about saving lives.
Factual matters
Jacobsen's gratitude to North is clearly genuine and emotionally
affecting. Unaddressed are larger questions about the means used to
achieve the end of the release of three hostages. Some feel the
Iran-Contra policy rewarded terrorists and encouraged further
hostage-taking.
KEYWORDS: U.S. SENATE RACE CAMPAIGN by CNB