Lt. Col. Oliver L. North will give a free and public lecture at Cornell on Monday, April 14, at 8 p.m. in Statler Hall Auditorium. Titled "The New Conservative Covenant," the lecture will last approximately an hour and will be followed by 20 minutes for questions.

Tickets are not required for the lecture; doors open at 7:30 p.m.

North served on the National Security Council under former President Ronald Reagan and was a prominent figure in the "Iran-Contra" hearings. In 1989 he was convicted for misleading Congress about his activities in the White House in the arms-for-hostages deal; the verdict was overturned on appeal.

North is a decorated combat veteran who served 22 years in the Marines. In 1994 he lost a bid for the U.S. Senate, but remains active in politics. According to an April 2 article in the Washington Post, he is actively campaigning for Salvatore Perchiano, who hopes to unseat Virginia Democrat and longtime State Delegate David G. Brickley in November.

North last spoke in Ithaca in 1992 at Ithaca College.

"Lt. Col. North has played a major role in the history of our generation by helping to protect America against the Communist threat," said Tom Gilmour '00, treasurer of the Cornell College Republicans. "I'm sure all students will find his speech to be informative, regardless of their political views."

Chris Marquis '00, the organization's first vice-chairman, said, "It will be a great honor for the College Republicans to host Lt. Col. North. The final decade of the Cold War was an incredible period in world history, and he was at the center of much of what was happening. His experience, service and love of country should make for a great speech that will be interesting to all who attend."

North's lecture is sponsored by Cornell College Republicans and other conservative student organizations, including Cornell Review, the First Amendment Coalition, the Young America's Foundation and the Department of Government.

For more information about North's lecture, call Chris Marquis of the Cornell College Republicans at (607) 253-2728.