Iran-Contra Iran-Contra

November 1986November 1986 Confirmed reports the United Confirmed reports the United

States secretly sold arms to IranStates secretly sold arms to Iran Portion of the proceeds from the Portion of the proceeds from the

arms sale had been diverted to arms sale had been diverted to finance the Contrasfinance the Contras

Who were the Contras?Who were the Contras?

““freedom fighters” who were freedom fighters” who were working to overthrow the working to overthrow the democratically elected democratically elected Sandinista government of Sandinista government of NicaraguaNicaragua

Congress had explicitly Congress had explicitly prohibited aid to the Contrasprohibited aid to the Contras

Secret diversion of the secret Secret diversion of the secret arms profits was illegal and arms profits was illegal and unconstitutionalunconstitutional

1985- group of Israelis had 1985- group of Israelis had approached National Security approached National Security Advisor Robert MacFarlane with Advisor Robert MacFarlane with a scheme in which Iran would a scheme in which Iran would use its influence to free the U.S. use its influence to free the U.S. hostages in Lebanon in hostages in Lebanon in exchange for armsexchange for arms

Secretary of State George Secretary of State George Schultz and Secretary of Schultz and Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger Defense Caspar Weinberger objected to the plan but objected to the plan but (MacFarlane testified) Reagan (MacFarlane testified) Reagan agree to itagree to it

July 1985- U.S. would send 508 July 1985- U.S. would send 508 American made TOW anti-tank American made TOW anti-tank missiles from Israel to Iran for missiles from Israel to Iran for the safe exchange of a hostage- the safe exchange of a hostage- Reverend Benjamin WeirReverend Benjamin Weir

After that successful transfer- After that successful transfer- Israelis offered to ship 500 Israelis offered to ship 500 HAWK surface to air missiles to HAWK surface to air missiles to Iran in Nov 1985, in exchange for Iran in Nov 1985, in exchange for the release of all remaining the release of all remaining American hostages being held in American hostages being held in LebanonLebanon

Eventually the arms were sold Eventually the arms were sold with proceeds going to the with proceeds going to the Contras, and the hostages were Contras, and the hostages were releasedreleased

February 1986- 1000 TOW February 1986- 1000 TOW missiles were shipped to Iran. missiles were shipped to Iran. From May to Nov there were From May to Nov there were more shipments of various more shipments of various weapons and partsweapons and parts

Hezbollah terrorists who had Hezbollah terrorists who had kidnapped the original hostages kidnapped the original hostages planned to kidnap more planned to kidnap more hostages following the release of hostages following the release of the previous ones- which made the previous ones- which made any further dealings with Iran any further dealings with Iran meaninglessmeaningless

Oliver (Ollie) North (U.S. Marine Oliver (Ollie) North (U.S. Marine Lt. Col) proposed the plan to Lt. Col) proposed the plan to funnel arms money to the funnel arms money to the ContrasContras

1986- word got out about secret 1986- word got out about secret transactionstransactions

Lebanese magazine published a Lebanese magazine published a series of articles that exposed series of articles that exposed the weapons for hostages dealthe weapons for hostages deal

November 18, 1987- Congress November 18, 1987- Congress issued a report on the affair that issued a report on the affair that stated the president bore stated the president bore “ultimate responsibility.”“ultimate responsibility.”

Hearings about the scandal were Hearings about the scandal were televised from May to August 1987televised from May to August 1987

Found that National Security Found that National Security Advisor Poindexter had personally Advisor Poindexter had personally authorized the diversion of money authorized the diversion of money to the Contra rebelsto the Contra rebels

Poindexter was withholding Poindexter was withholding information from President information from President ReaganReagan

CIA’s William J. Casey played a CIA’s William J. Casey played a part in conspiracy, but he died part in conspiracy, but he died during hearingsduring hearings

North had been a military aide to North had been a military aide to the National Security Council- he the National Security Council- he had been the main negotiatorhad been the main negotiator

During his hearings he During his hearings he repeatedly explained he was repeatedly explained he was “under orders from his superiors”“under orders from his superiors”

In the end- President was not In the end- President was not charged with any offensecharged with any offense

North was convicted on 3 of 12 North was convicted on 3 of 12 criminal counts, but convictions criminal counts, but convictions were set aside on appealwere set aside on appeal

Convicted of obstructing Convicted of obstructing Congress, unlawfully destroying Congress, unlawfully destroying government documentsgovernment documents

Conviction was expunged on Conviction was expunged on grounds he had acted strictly out grounds he had acted strictly out of patriotismof patriotism

Poindexter convicted in April Poindexter convicted in April 1990 on five counts of deceiving 1990 on five counts of deceiving Congress and sentenced to six Congress and sentenced to six months in prisonmonths in prison

Weinberger convicted of five Weinberger convicted of five counts of deceiving Congresscounts of deceiving Congress

Convictions overturnedConvictions overturned

All were pardoned by George H. All were pardoned by George H. W. Bush- Christmas Eve 1992W. Bush- Christmas Eve 1992