Mr. MITCHELL: Mr. Calero, did Colonel North ever tell you that he talked with President Reagan about this matter?

Mr. CALERO: He always told me that the President was back of us, was plugging for us, and that was public, of course, I mean through President Reagan's Saturday radio talks and in his press conferences and in every opportunity he had, he did

Mr. MITCHELL: I understand the President's position. My question is, did Colonel North ever tell you that he, Colonel North, had talked with President Reagan about this matter?

Mr. CALERO: About the support of the Nicaraguan

Mr. MITCHELL: Yes.

Mr. CALERO: Well, yes. He made some passing references to the President going to make a speech in our favor or having made a speech in our favor, and to his dedication and to his own unswerving

Mr. MITCHELL: Did he ever say anything other than what you have described as passing references about the President's support for this matter?

Mr. CALERO: To my recollection, yes. I never was privy to any specific or inside information of what the President knew and what the President didn't know. Mr. MITCHELL, My question is, did Colonel North ever tell you that he, Colonel North, said anything to the President?

Mr. CALERO: No. I mean, he did not tell me I told the President so-and-so. No, not to my recollection.

Mr. MITCHELL: Did you ever meet or talk with William Casey, the Director of the CIA, about this matter?

Mr. CALERO: Oh, yes. Many a time. As a matter of fact, I developed an affection for Mr. Casey. I used to refer to him as Uncle Bill, and I went to his funeral.