Iran-Contra Iran-Contra

Reagan administration- wanted Reagan administration- wanted to eradicate the world of to eradicate the world of CommunismCommunism

Reagan Doctrine- CIA trained Reagan Doctrine- CIA trained and assisted anti-Communist and assisted anti-Communist insurgencies worldwideinsurgencies worldwide

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

Reagan felt the Contras were Reagan felt the Contras were “the moral equivalent of our “the moral equivalent of our Founding Fathers”Founding Fathers”

Reagan wanted to help them- Reagan wanted to help them- told National Security Advisor told National Security Advisor Robert McFarlane “I want you to Robert McFarlane “I want you to do whatever you have to do to do whatever you have to do to help these people keep body and help these people keep body and soul together.”soul together.”

1982- Democratic sweep of 1982- Democratic sweep of CongressCongress

passed the Boland passed the Boland AmendmentAmendment

Boland AmendmentBoland Amendment

Restricted CIA and Department Restricted CIA and Department of Defense operations in of Defense operations in Nicaragua specificallyNicaragua specifically

19851985

Iran and Iraq were at warIran and Iraq were at war Iran- secret request to buy weapons Iran- secret request to buy weapons

from U.S.from U.S. McFarlane needed Reagan’s McFarlane needed Reagan’s

approvalapproval Embargo against selling arms to Embargo against selling arms to

IranIran

Reagan- upset there were 7 Reagan- upset there were 7 American hostages being held in American hostages being held in Lebanon by Iranian terroristsLebanon by Iranian terrorists

Reagan felt “he had a duty to Reagan felt “he had a duty to bring those Americans home.”bring those Americans home.”

Shipping arms would violate Shipping arms would violate embargo to Iranembargo to Iran

Dealing with terrorists would violate Dealing with terrorists would violate Reagan’s campaign promise Reagan’s campaign promise

Arms-for-hostages proposal divided Arms-for-hostages proposal divided the administrationthe administration

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

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

Lebanese newspaper Lebanese newspaper ”Al-Shiraa””Al-Shiraa”

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

States secretly sold arms to IranStates secretly sold arms to Iran

Reagan went on TV and denied Reagan went on TV and denied any operation had occurredany operation had occurred

Went on TV a week later and Went on TV a week later and said sale of weapons had not said sale of weapons had not been an arms-for-hostages dealbeen an arms-for-hostages deal

14% of Americans believed 14% of Americans believed Reagan when he said he had not Reagan when he said he had not traded arms for hostagestraded arms for hostages

Found that $12 million of $30 Found that $12 million of $30 million Iranians had paid had million Iranians had paid had reached our governmentreached our government

Where was the rest of the Where was the rest of the money? Funding the Contras money? Funding the Contras

This directly violated the Boland This directly violated the Boland AmendmentAmendment

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

National Security CouncilNational Security Council

Secretary Fawn Hall- helped Secretary Fawn Hall- helped funnel shredded documents out funnel shredded documents out for Northfor North

Testified after given immunity Testified after given immunity about role in scandalabout role in scandal

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

When Reagan left office- had When Reagan left office- had highest approval rating of any highest approval rating of any president since Franklin president since Franklin RooseveltRoosevelt