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...