WASHINGTON -- In a letter released by the White House Thursday, President Bush denied any involvement in the Iranian release of 52 hostages on President Reagan's inauguration day in 1981.
The letter, dated May 9, was to Moorhead Kennedy, a former hostage who was quoted that day as saying Bush's previous 'very limp denial' left him more convinced than ever that the 1980 Reagan-Bush presidential campaign enticed Iranian officials to hold the hostages until after the 1980 election.
Former Carter administration official Gary Sick has said five sources have told him that Bush, then vice president, was present at one in a series of October 1980 meetings in Paris to help plan the release of the hostages.
But Sick has also said none of the information was strong enough for him to conclude Bush was there. The meetings were allegedly held from Oct. 15 to Oct. 20 and involved campaign officials and top Iranians.
Moorhead was one of eight former hostages who asked Congress Thursday to open an investigation into the matter.
The following is the text of Bush's letter:
'Dear Mr. Kennedy:
'I read with distress your comments reported in the attached clip from our (White House) news summary.
'I can categorically assure you that I was never in Paris as claimed by the rumor mongers. I can also categorcially assure you that I have no information direct or indirect of any contact with Iranians relating to this hostage question.
'I am disappointed that you would feel I might have been a participant in a scheme to keep any American held hostage. I emphatically deny any such complicity.
'One of the sad things about public life is you have to suffer attacks of your character, on your honor.
'I can readily understand your concern when allegations are made like those by Mr. Sick. A proposition so fundamentally immoral would certainly concern anyone.
'Please accept my word that I know of nothing about anyone else's involvement in such an insidious plot, and I know for a fact that I had no contact such as those being alleged by Mr. Sick.
'I wish you all the best and I hope this has laid to rest some of your concerns.'
Kennedy, a Republican knowledged receipt of Bush's letter at a news conference Thursday and said, 'I wrote the president that it is in the interest of our party to have this investigation.'
