The Iran Contra AffairAnd the Oliver North Trial

Background – Reagan’s Contribution• “Reagan Doctrine” – Unofficial, made the anti-

communist insurgencies out to be “moral equivalent to our Founding Fathers”– Pledged support to struggling insurgencies, including

financial backing– Led by CIA, several insurgencies were trained and

supplied

• Boland amendment: 1982 and 1984• told NSA Robert McFarlane to do whatever

necessary.

Background – Beginning of Iranian Deal• 1985 – Iran and Iraq were at war, Iran secretly

requested to buy weapons from the US– Embargo– 7 US hostages– campaign promise to never negotiate with terrorists– support of McFarlane, and William Casey of CIA – despite

arguments from SecDef Caspar Weinberger and SecState George Shultz

– Only 3 hostages were released, and 3 more were captured shortly after

Deal Goes Wrong• November, 1986 - Lebanese

newspaper “Al-Shiraa” printed exposé on the covert ops

• Reagan denies on TV, week later retracts statement, said it happened, but not negotiation w/ terrorists

• Then, AG Edwin Meese poked a little to far, and found that only $12 mil of supposed $30 mil had reached federal coffers

Where did the Money Go?• Lt-Col. Oliver North of the NSC - the missing $18 mil

went to Nicaraguan anti-communist insurgents, the Contras, fighting Sandinistas, w/ full knowledge of NSA Adm. John Poindexter and assumed knowledge of Pres. Ronald Reagan

• Poindexter resigned, North was fired, and the press tried Reagan: did he know, and was responisble, or didn’t he know, and was still responsible?

Responsible?

Trial by the Press• Press hounded Reagan, so he created the Tower

Commission– Said that it was Reagan’s disconnected stance towards the

White house that caused this to be allowed to happen

• Independent Counsel Lawrence Walsh investigated the affair for the next eight years – resulted in charging 14 people – of which 6 were pardoned

Trial Problems• Graymail• Congressional Immunity • Who would allow the president to go to jail?• Scapegoating

Name Charges Outcomes Sentencing

Robert McFarlane

(national security adviser)

Charged with 4 misdemeanor counts of withholding information from Congress.

Pleaded guilty to all 4 counts. Then cooperated with the investigation.

2 years’ probation, $20,000 in fines and 200 hours community service. Pardoned.

Oliver North(NSC staff)

Indicted on 12 counts, including conspiracy and making false statements.

Convicted of 3 charges: accepting a gratuity, aiding in the obstruction of Congress, and destroying documents. Given a suspended 3-year prison term, 2 years’ probation, $150,000 in fines, and 1,200 hours of community service.

A court of appeals vacated his conviction for further proceedings to determine whether his immunized testimony influenced witnesses. The judge dismissed the case based on evidence that it had.

John Poindexter(national security

adviser)

Indicted on 7 felony charges; stood trial on 5 of them.

Found guilty of 2 counts of false statements, 2 of obstructing Congress, and conspiracy. Given 6 months in prison for each count, to be served concurrently.

A court of appeals vacated his conviction since his immunized testimony may have influenced witnesses. The case was dismissed.

The National Security Staff

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