Reagan’s own Rambo

Press, 1 April 1989, Page 23

Reagan’s own Rambo

Guts and Glory: The Rise and Fall of Oliver North, by Ben Bradlee, jun. Grafton Books, 1988. 559 pp. $45 approx. (Reviewed by Alan Conway) At first one is tempted to dismiss this unauthorised biography as a “pot boiler” produced in a hurry to meet public demand for more information about Lieutenant-Colonel Oliver North and the Iran-Contra scandal. That, however, would be unfair because by skilful use of testimony from Congressional investigations and hundreds of interviews with highly placed Government officials, Vietnam veterans and high school friends. Bradlee has constructed an interesting profile of North while unravelling the complex and illegal activities of the second Reagan Administration.

North was wise to refuse to be interviewed by Bradlee because whether or not he is found guilty of the charges brought against him, lie is certain to be offered a million dollars or more for the story of his life. Such an autobiography would sell very well because to many Americans North ranks only slightly behind “Wild Bill” Hickok, General Patton and Rambo in the pantheon of American heroes. This is a large book and the interest of readers may flag occasionally, but Bradlee provides an entertaining tour of the wonderful world of Reagan and North. Reagan has proved that a popular President can break the laws and thumb his nose at Congress, yet still retain the affection of large

numbers of his fellow citizens. North, the real life personification of Reagan’s celluloid image, may well do the same. It is, perhaps, symptomatic of the times that the “Ollieburger” has now gone on sale made frem shredded beef, shredded lettuce and shredded American cheese.

This book is possibly unique in that it provides politicians and others with a new vocabulary. Lying is now “additional input radically different from the truth” and official lying a "plausible deniability.”