Silence Not a Lie, Bush Says

BURLINGTON, Vt. — Vice President George Bush today defended the Reagan Administration’s decision not to tell Congress about the Iran- contra initiative, saying, “Failing to tell the Congress is not a lie.”

Bush, in Vermont to attend a fund-raiser for his unofficial campaign for the GOP presidential nomination, also said he does not think any Administration officials will be indicted in connection with the affair. Asked if the fact that President Reagan was never told of the contra fund diversion indicated a lapse of management on the President’s part, Bush said, “You can’t win, can you?”