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Selects: Iran-Contra Affair: Shady in the 80s, Part 2
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Reagan's Legacy and the '88-Times' Deposition
At 47:36 · chapter starts 47:00
Reagan's 1990 deposition became a cultural touchstone in its own right — the man who claimed never to negotiate with terrorists couldn't remember what he knew or when he knew it, saying 'I don't remember' or 'I don't recall' 88 times. [1] — Chuck Bryant "Reagan said 'I don't recall' 88 times: In his 1990 deposition about Iran-Contra, Ronald Reagan said 'I don't remember' or 'I don't recall' …" 47:16 Josh and Chuck compare it favorably to Bill Clinton's famous 'depends what your definition of is is.' Yet the political damage was temporary. Reagan's approval rating had cratered from 63% to 43%-47% in the months after the scandal broke, but by the time he left office it had recovered to the early 60s. He departed the White House as the most popular president since FDR, Josh quips, carried out on Mr. T's shoulders. The hosts marvel at how completely the Iran-Contra scandal was absorbed into his legacy without truly defining it — a story of accountability deferred, evidence destroyed, and memory conveniently failed.
Articles of impeachment were introduced in the House against Ronald Reagan following Iran-Contra. The Reagan White House managed to stall and delay investigations for years until Reagan left office, at which point the effort was abandoned. Bush's pardons then closed the book entirely.
In his 1990 deposition about Iran-Contra, Ronald Reagan said 'I don't remember' or 'I don't recall' 88 times.
Despite the scandal, Reagan's approval rating rebounded to the low 60s by the end of his presidency, making him the most popular president since FDR.
