American Notes POLITICS

In the wake of the Iran-contra fiasco, the President moved last week to head off congressional efforts to restrict his power to conduct covert activities. In a formal announcement made in the Oval Office on Friday, Reagan promised that he would notify Congress of such initiatives within 48 hours, barring the "most exceptional circumstances."

The President unveiled a six-point agreement laboriously negotiated between National Security Adviser Frank Carlucci and the Senate Intelligence Committee. Key provisions: that all orders for covert operations be written and made available to National Security Council members, including the Secretaries of State and Defense; that Congress be told of all private individuals assisting in such activities; that all covert actions be subject to annual review. The House Intelligence unit is working on a similar agreement. But Oklahoma Democrat David Boren, chairman of the Senate committee, conceded that the new accord was not an "absolute, airtight insurance policy" against Iran-contra-style capers.