Actually, I said a long time ago that Reagan might have also done his best to deny that our military had anything to do with the downing of TWA800.
Clinton's reasons were almost certainly political. Reagan's would have been military.
ML/NJ
I think Reagan, whom I admire(d) greatly, sometimes allowed himself to be steered the wrong way by some of his advisors.
Unless it had direct and serious National Security facets, I don’t think President Trump would allow such a lie, much less foster one.