REAGAN'S CIA MAN WITHDRAWS, VICTIM OF IRAN SCANDAL
President Reagan's nominee as
director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), Robert
Gates, withdrew his name from consideration by the Senate in
the face of a long battle for confirmation.
    His withdrawal was announced at a White House news
conference by Reagan's new Chief-of-Staff, Howard Baker, who
said the President had accepted it with great regret.
    Gates, now deputy head of the CIA, had been questioned
about CIA involvement in the Iran-contra scandal and leading
senators had warned his nomination was in trouble. Baker said
Gates would remain as deputy director of the spy agency.
 REUTER
