Bush Described as Stunned, Surprised

WASHINGTON — An aide portrayed Vice President George Bush as stunned and surprised by the revelation that funds from clandestine weapons sales to Iran wound up in the hands of Nicaraguan contras.

“He had no knowledge,” the aide said. “He was surprised and stunned.”

Atty. Gen. Edwin Meese III said that Bush did not know about the illegal funneling of funds to the rebels until Monday, “when I informed him of essentially the same information I had given the President.”