But What Laws Were Broken?

When Ronald Reagan admitted two weeks ago that he had discussed contributions to the Nicaraguan contras with King Fahd of Saudi Arabia in 1985, news reports suggested that the President had knowingly contravened the Boland amendment. Or so it seemed to White House Aide Thomas Griscom, who marched into the office of Chief of Staff Howard Baker. Said Griscom: "At some point you've gotta say whoa!"

At the start of last week Baker did. Though Reagan claims that Fahd offered his contra contribution voluntarily, Baker asserted that the President would have been within his rights to ask for the money outright....