Oliver North and the Iran Contra

Scandal

Kelli NussbaumerPeriod 2

• Supposed largest scandal since Watergate

• Officially exposed: November 25, 1986• During Reagan administration• Agreed to arms sales to Iran • Hoped to secure release of hostages• Beginning operation to improve US-

Iranian relations

Plan

• Israel ship weapons to Iranian group• US would resupply Israel’s weapons• US would receive the Israel payment• Iranian recipient promised what he could • Six hostages held• Lebanese Shia Islamist group Hezbollah

Background

• Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution

• Arms-for-hostages scheme• Modifications by Lieutenant Colonel Oliver

North• Late 1985• Portion of proceeds diverted• No evidence

• US Nicaraguan-Contra involvement began in 1981• Signed by Reagan• Congress urged efforts to be halted• Reagan Administration worked to

sustain efforts• Jeopardized Reagan administration

• Contra: “counter revolution”• Did Reagan authorize diversion of $?• Hand written notes– Casper Weinberger– Oliver North

• Reagan supported– Anti-Sandinista– Anti-Communism– Contras in Nicaragua

Iran-Contra hearings• http://

www.youtube.com/watch?v=9B7ZOM-ZSa8&feature=related

• Revealed November 1986• Reagan appeared on national television• Confirmed weapons transfer occurred• Not a hostage-arms trade

•Notes taken by Defense Secretary Weinberger

“he could answer charges of illegality but he couldn’t answer charges that ‘big strong President Reagan’ passed up a chance to free hostages”

1987 Iran-Contra hearings

• North warned Congress of terrorists– Abu Nidal–Mohmmar Qadaffi

• Spent $60,000 on home security system • Later convicted of criminal charges• Conviction later overturned

After

• Reagan returned to national television March 4, 1987

• Took full responsibility • Investigations ensued• Fourteen administrative officials indicted• Eleven convictions• Some repealed; rest pardoned later

Involvement (indicted officials)

• Elliot Abrams• David Addington• John Bolton• Richard Cheney• Robert M Gates • Manuchehr Ghorbanifer

Involvement (indicted officials)

• Michael Ledeen• Edwin Meese• John Negroponte• Oliver L. North• Daniel Ortega• John Poindexter• Otto Reich

Indicted Officials

•Many played role in Reagan’s defense•Some continued on in same work positions•North is now•Radio talk show host•columnist

• Reagan succeeded avoiding harsh political penalty

• Due to Poindexter’s testimony• Attorney General Edwin Meese– Focused attention on the diversion– Thought Reagan could credibly deny it

• Reagan aids minimized public scrutiny

• Battle over presidential power• Still continues now• Political struggle in the same

direction• Congress vs. President• Congress vs. Public

• Records have never became public• No sure conclusions made• Only speculations• Concluded during Bush

administration

Work Sited

• http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB210/index.htm

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran%E2%80%93Contra_affair

• http://www.snopes.com/rumors/north.asp• www.youtube.com