It's been a long time since Ronald Reagan rode off into the sunset. For most of us, his political reign went out with the last of our dewy-eyed youth and is categorized along with memories of braces and our junior prom.

If we think of him at all, we think of a kind old man behind a desk who spoke in warm tones about democracy and prosperity. He presided over everything from island invasions to bomb-runs on terrorists with the same sense of self-righteous confidence.

Of course he had his problems. The biggest was the Iran-Contra scandal. Did he know anything about the diversion of money from arm sales in Iran to the Contras in Nicaragua? He wasn't sure.

As the inquiries became more intense he suddenly realized he very definitely didn't have any idea what was going on when those decisions were made. His ignorance seemed strange; after all, he was the president. But he acted disoriented and confused during the hearings in summer of '87, and a lot of good people sacrificed their own reputations to protect the president.

Almost three years after the Iran-Contra hearings, the criminal trials have begun. John Poindexter's trial is coming up on Feb. 20 and he probably is not in any hurry to serve time for lying to Congress.

Contrary to his testimony three years ago, he now states that the president was aware of the diversion of funds to the Contras. Poindexter also says that as the highest official in the National Security Council he received his orders directly from the president.

His attorneys asked for permission to admit "questionable" entries in Reagan's diaries that may support Poindexter's assertions. The federal district court judge ruled that Reagan must provide videotaped testimony that answers 154 questions posed by Poindexter's attorneys.

It's been a long time since the Iran Contra Scandal first became public. Now we may finally learn the full details of the criminal activities of the National Security staffers who chose to abuse the powers of the executive office. We've been kept in the dark long enough.

But Ronald Reagan has chosen to protect himself at the expense of the American people. He has formally announced that he will refuse to testify due to his executive privilege .

This privilege is loosely based on the Constitution and much debated among experts. Different presidents have claimed that this term assures them everything from a private conversation to withholding information in the interest of government security.

It will be awhile before we will know how the justice department will respond to Reagan's claim to executive privilege. But the fact Reagan has attempted to defraud the fair trial of Poindexter -- one of the individuals most deeply involved in the scandal -- brings the possibility that we will not learn exactly what happened.

The Iran-Contra affair represents one of the most blatant abuses of the power of the executive branch since Watergate. A complete disclosure of exactly how such an abuse was allowed to take place is necessary to ensure that such an event never happens again.

As president, Reagan had a direct responsibility to uphold the decisions of Congress. But members of Reagan's own staff chose to ignore these decisions. Not questioning the former president's involvement in the affair would set a dangerous precedent.

The Iran-Contra affair happened for one of two reasons. Either Reagan was completely inept and unable to perform the work his job required, or he directly approved the decision. There is no middle ground.

If the investigation uncovers that Reagan himself approved of the Iran-Contra project, his actions can only be perceived as criminal. The mantle of the presidency does not give him permission to break the law.

Unless he comes forward with his testimony, his insistence of innocence should be greeted with nothing but suspicion.

What is necessary now is that we continue to place public pressure on Reagan to testify. When he became president he was entrusted with the duty of executing the will of the American people.

If he neglected these responsibilities, we should be sure that he is prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.