Oliver North & Iran Contra Scandal

Brian MarkovichPd 3

The Beginning•First accusations in Oct of 1980.

•Reagan – Bush Campaign makes secret pact.

•Pact with Iran

•Wait until after nov. election.

•Trade Hostages for Weapons.

Contra Affair•Began to improve US- Iranian relations.

•Israel would ship weapons to Iranians.

•US would give Israel same weapons.

•Iranians tried to release 6 US hostages.

Contra Affair•Commitment to aid the contras.

•Guerrilla war against government of Nicaragua.

• placate “moderates” within the Iranian government.

•held by pro-Iranian groups in Lebanon.

Contra Affair•Boland amendments take effect.

•Prohibited government from aiding the contras.

•Reagan administration “circumvented” the limitations set.

•Used National Security Council to aid Contras.

•Didn’t break the Boland amendments.

Contra Affair•Aided the contras with covert ops.

•Small group of military tacticians.

•The operation was directed by the NSC.

Contra Affair•NSC aided from Dec ‘83 to Sept ‘85.

•Robert McFarlane and John Poindexter in NSC.

•Raised secret funding for the Contras.

Contra Affair•In July 1985 US made BGM-71 TOW.

•It’s an Anti – Tank missile.

•Traded through Manucher Ghorbanifar.

•Friend of Iran Prime Minister Mousavi.

•Within hours of trade 1 hostage released.

Oliver North•Thought trading weapons would help hostages.

•Deputy Director of Political Military Affairs.

•In charge of retrieving hostages.

•Money from arm sales helped contras.

Oliver North•Scandal became public in 1986.

•Emailed John Poindexter Aug 23rd 1986

•North dismissed by Reagan in 1987.

•Summoned to testify for congressional committee.

•This was televised.

Oliver North• North again tried in 1988 for NSC.

• Indicted on 16 felony counts.

• May 4th 1989 he was convicted of 3.

• Sentenced 3 years of prison

• 2 years of probation, $150,000 fines.

• July 20th 1990 convictions were vacated

End