The telephone poll was conducted the day after Mr. North's conviction on charges of destroying documents, preparing a false chronology of the Iran arms sale and accepting a free home-security system.

On the third count, involving the creation of a false chronology, the jurors rejected the stronger charge (obstruction of Congress) and accepted the lesser (aiding and abetting in that obstruction).

Colonel North's testimony on the Iran-contra affair also contradicted statements made to the committees by Robert C. McFarlane, the former national security adviser, about how false chronologies of the Iran affair were prepared.

Q. And you've admitted that you lied in creating false chronologies of these events.

Mr. North was found guilty May 4 of destroying official documents, accepting a free gift of a $13,800 home security system and obstructing Congress by preparing a false chronology of arms sales to Iran.

This exchange occurred during questioning about a false chronology.

Indeed, many Europeans now seem stupefied that the 43-year-old marine who shredded documents and concocted false chronologies has won the admiration of so many Americans.

White House aides frantically constructed a false chronology of events minimizing the President's role.

The case Mr. Walsh eventually got to take to the jury involved such relatively peripheral charges against Mr. North as shredding documents, presenting a false chronology to Congress and accepting the home security system.

Who directed that false chronologies of the Iran affair be prepared?