Shultz, Weinberger

Though both the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Defense opposed the arms-for-hostages proposal from the start, neither moved forcefully to stop the initiative. "Secretary Shultz specifically requested to be informed only as necessary to perform his job," the commission found. "Secretary Weinberger had access through intelligence to details about the operation. Their obligation was to give the President their full support and continued advice with respect to the program or, if they could not in conscience do that, to so inform the President. Instead, they simply distanced themselves from the program. They protected the record as to their own positions on this issue. They were not energetic in attempting to protect the President from the consequences of his personal commitment to freeing the hostages."