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...