WHITE HOUSE PLAYED KEY ROLE REPORT DETAILS NORTH'S INVOLVEMENT WITH CONTRA AID.(Main)

Byline: Alfonso Chardy Knight-Ridder

Despite repeated denials, the White House - with fired National Security Council aide Oliver North in the lead - played a "substantial" role in providing military aid to the Nicaraguan rebels even though it may have been illegal, the Tower Board found.

The board's report, released Thursday, provides new evidence that North was deeply involved with the rebels' military effort and criticizes senior White House officials for making little effort to determine if the NSC's support was legal.

The board also found that NSC officials may have "actively misled" Congress about the White House council's involvement with the …