The Virginian-Pilot
                             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

CAMPAIGN AD WATCH

ILLUSTRATION: Graphic

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