Will Iran-contra ever end? Walsh’s supporters say the former federal judge and prosecutor is just doing his civic duty to ferret out deceit in the executive branch. They blame the Reagan administration for refusing access to classified documents central to the prosecution, They also blame Congress for holding the 1987 televised hearings that finally led to the collapse of the North case. Lawmakers wanted a public airing of the scandal, but they created problems for Walsh, who was unable to show that key witnesses were untainted by North’s testimony. Most of Walsh’s staffers defend him as an old-fashioned moralist. But some wonder at his painstaking caution and somewhat leisurely approach to the case. Walsh admits some misgivings. “At times I’ve questioned my investment of time,” he says. “But you can’t just quit because you’re picking up criticism.” Walsh, whose persistence has helped him to win convictions of eight Iran-contra figures so far, turns 80 in January. Don’t expect him to retire any time soon.
