Gilbert Robert E
Edward W. Brooke Professor Department of Political Science, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115,
Politics Life Sci. 2014 Fall;33(2):58-76. doi: 10.2990/33_2_58.
This paper assesses the likelihood that the Iran-Contra scandal was shaped heavily by the effects of Ronald Reagan's cancer surgery in summer, 1985. During the President's hospitalization and in the period soon after, he took several actions--which he apparently did not remember--that launched a policy that was unwise, counterproductive, and a failure. These damaged both his Administration and his standing in history. The 25th Amendment afforded Reagan the means by which his involvement in these events could easily have been avoided. However, the President and his aides determined that he would resume the powers and duties of the presidency only hours after undergoing extensive cancer surgery. This decision contributed materially to the most damaging episode of Reagan's eight-year presidency.
本文评估了1985年夏天罗纳德·里根的癌症手术对伊朗门丑闻产生重大影响的可能性。在总统住院期间及之后不久，他采取了几项行动——显然他自己并不记得——这些行动引发了一项不明智、适得其反且失败的政策。这些行动损害了他的政府以及他在历史上的地位。宪法第二十五条修正案为里根提供了本可轻易避免其卷入这些事件的途径。然而，总统及其助手决定，他在接受广泛的癌症手术后仅数小时就恢复总统的权力和职责。这一决定在很大程度上导致了里根八年总统任期内最具破坏性的事件。
