TT#12 | 13 Facts about the Iran-Contra Scandal

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        ( Photo by Theron Parlin)

The Iran-Contra scandal of the '80s implicated numerous U.S. government officials in illegal schemes and cover-ups.  This summary is based largely on Special Prosecutor Lawrence Walsh's report but includes other sources. Given the scandal's complexity, this summary is hyper-simplified.

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A.  Some Basics About Iran-Contra

1. Controversial "Christmas Eve pardons."  On December 24, 1992, President George H.W. Bush (Bush the elder, who was vice president during Iran-Contra) pardoned six people involved in the scandal -- two officials before they faced trials.

2. What was the scandal about? The scandal involved two illegal government operations designed to implement secret Reagan Administration policies, coordinated by National Security Staff: 

a) The "Contra" component (1984-86):  The Reagan Administration secretly provided illegal aid to a guerrilla group known as "the Contras," which sought to overthrow Nicaragua's Sandista government. 

b) The Iran component (1985-1986):  The Administration secretly tried to get American hostages released from the Mideast by selling embargoed U.S. weapons to Iran.

U.S. operatives funneled to the Contras money from the illegal sale of weapons to Iran.

3. How was the scandal exposed?  On October 5, 1986, Nicaraguan soldiers shot down an American plane carrying supplies to the Contras. The surviving crew member, Eugene Hasenfus, was arrested and said he worked for the CIA.  On November 3, a Lebanese newspaper reported the secret sale of U.S. arms to Iran. On November 25, Attorney General Ed Meese announced that money from the arms sales to Iran had gone to the Contras.

4. The Contras & Drugs.  On July 28, 1988, two DEA agents testified to a House subcommittee about a sting operation against the Medellin Drug Cartel: evidence suggested that the Contras made money via drug trafficking. The agents said that Oliver North (see #8) wanted to give the Contras $1.5 million in bribe money held by a DEA informant, but DEA officials siad "no." A Senate Subcommittee led by John Kerry found that some U.S. officials viewed drug money as a solution to the Contras' funding problems.

 5. The Cover-up.  According to Walsh, from fall 1986 through summer 1987, senior Reagan Administration officials tried to deceive Congress and the public about their knowledge of the Iran-Contra operations.

B. Indictments, Convictions & Pardons

6. Caspar Weinberger, Reagan's Defense Secretary. Weinberger allegedly participated in the transfer of U.S. missiles to Iran.  He was indicted on multiple counts including obstruction and perjury. Ultimately, 4 counts stood, each carrying a maximum of 5 years' prison and $250,000 in fines. President G.H.W. Bush pardoned him 12 days before the trial. Weinberger died in 2006.

7. Duane Clarridge, CIA supervisor/operative. He allegedly helped organize Contra forces to overthrow Nicaragua's government. Clarridge was indicted on seven counts of perjury and making false statements about a secret shipment of U.S. missiles to Iran. President G.H.W. Bush pardoned Clarridge about 3 months before the trial.

8. Oliver North, U.S. Marine officer.  He allegedly coordinated arms sales to Iran.  North was indicted on 16 felony counts and convicted of 3 -- including destruction of documents after major paper-shredding. He got a three-year suspended prison sentence. North appealed, and the case was dismissed on technicalities.  North ran for U.S. Senate in 1994 and lost.  He's a commentator on Fox.

9. Richard Secord, Air Force officer. He allegedly represented U.S. arms dealers before the Shah of Iran. Secord was indicted on 15 counts including 6 felonies. He pled guilty to impeding and obstructing congressional investigations and got 2 years' probation.      

10. Robert McFarlane, Reagan's National Security adviser. McFarlane allegedly helped coordinate weapons transfers to Iran. He pled guilty to 4 misdemeanor counts of withholding information from Congress and was sentenced to probation.  President G.H.W. Bush pardoned him.

11. John Poindexter, Reagan's National Security adviser. He was convicted of multiple  felonies, e.g., defrauding the government, destruction of evidence, and perjury.  The conviction was overturned on technicalities.  Poindexter went on to work for government contractors.  In 2002, President G.W. Bush appointed him as head of the Total Information Awareness Office, a domestic-spying entity.  Poindexter resigned before serving a year.

12. Elliot Abrams, Reagan's Deputy Secretary of State.  Abrams allegedly was involved in the cover-up.  He avoided trial by pleading guilty of two misdemeanor counts of withholding information from Congress and got probation. President G.H.W. Bush pardoned him. As president, Bush later appointed Abrams as a Special Assistant and Senior Director on the National Security Council. 

13. Clair George, CIA Deputy Director of Operations. As a supervisor, George allegedly had extensive knowledge of both the Iran and Contra components.  He was indicted on seven counts of perjury and making false statements re: a secret shipment of U.S. missiles to Iran.  President G.H.W. Bush pardoned him.

Bonus: Did President Reagan Break the Law? Oliver North repeatedly testified that he believed Reagan approved of North's activities, but North did not offer direct proof. Walsh could not conclude concluded that Reagan violated criminal statutes but believed that Reagan had created a climate in which senior officials felt free to disregard the nation's laws.

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Sources

CNN Cold War:  Interview with Oscar Manuel Sobalvarro

Independent Prosecutor's Final Report : Table of contents (links to other parts)

George Washington Univ. (GWU):  The Contras, Cocaine & Covert Operations

Time Magazine:  But What Laws Were Broken? (1985)

Wikipedia:  Iran-Contra Affair  (has many internal links)

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BN-Politics' Posts

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    * Officer Under Investigation after Weapons Missing

    * Blackwater Investigated re: Illegal Arms Smuggling in Iraq

    * Have U.S. Officials Protected Blackwater?

 

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Comments

[Robin]

How is it that someone convicted of multiple felonies is allowed to run for high government office...

Very sad.

[Special K Toni]

Very enlightening T13!

[The Gal Herself]

Great (recent) history lesson. It always bugged me that Oliver North never reminded the public of your #4 whenever he slammed Senator Kerry during the 04 campaign. With the antagonistic past the men share, it would have been nice for the sake of "fair and balanced" reporting if North had copped to how angry he was about the Iran-Contra hearings. Anyway, great post (as usual).

[Nicole Austin]

I remember watching Oliver North testify. The whole situation was such a mess.

Another great list! Happy TT. :D

[Chelle Y.]

Wow, coming hear every week is like going to history class! I love it!

Happy TT!

http://www.chelleyoung.com/index.php/archive/thursday-thirteen-77-thirteen-things-about-my-nephew-jared/

[Tink]

Yep, I remember most of this...
My TT shows my Tinkerbell collection.

[Nap Warden]

I totally remember being in high school and watching Oliver North testify. Thanks to your list I understand much more than I did then.

[Joely]

I don't remember much about this, other than Oliver North saying he couldn't recall. Happy TT!

[nononsense girl]

Once again, great TT! I have learned a lot!

Mine's up, 13 things about my job interview tomorrow!

[Lori]

You have to be one of the smartest people I know when it comes to history and politics. Great job:)

[WFMom]

Once again, great list. So sad, really. I so look forward to your list each week.

[Cindi]

Oh how well I remember this event in out history. It was a very interesting blink back at that recent, but very important, moment in American history.

Cindi

[Susan Helene Gottfried]

Yep, just another reminder of how much I hate politics. I do just about anything to avoid it, even the neighborhood politics. Yuck.

[Lori]

I'll be darned! Didn't know but a couple of those things. You always have something interesting:)

[pussreboots]

Brings back memories of the polisci class Mr. Fox taught in 9th grade. He was a tough but excellent teacher. Happy TT.

[Xakara]

Number 11....*Blink, Blink*

McDonalds doesn't hire folks with multiple felony convictions...

GWB is apparently not a discerning.

*Headshake*

~X

[ONwebCHECK]

Oh, that baby I want to have to near by me. a nice TT!

[samulli]

Hm, as usual when I come here, I learned something that was completely new to me.
It just gives me more reasons to shake my head about Bush (or rather, about the fact that american people voted for him not once, but twice - which is a fact I will never ever understand) and confirming my belief that to call politicians of every country psychotic low-lifes is an insult to the psychotic low-life community. ;)

[Rasmenia]

I remember bits & pieces of this, mostly Oliver North pleading the 5th.

So, he's working for Fox, now? I had no idea...

Have an excellent Thursday & thanks for stopping by my list. :)

[Michelle]

Great list, thanks for the history lesson/reminder.

[Vixen]

Another great TT. It was exactly this event which disillusioned me to our governement at the tender age when I should have just been getting excited about it (1980 was the first election I was old enough to participate in). Have a great TT.

[Deb - Mom of 3 Girls]

I remember all of this so very vaguely, I was in high school at the time. It's enlightening to learn more about what actually happened.

[Carrie Lofty]

I remember my parents being glued to the TV during the hearings. I didn't get it coz I was young. But now they're Republicans and it makes me want to scream. You support these people now??

[Dragonheart]

Thanks for the history lesson! Very interesting stuff.

[mcangeli]

That was informative... next week... 13 ways you can prove the constitution is no longer in effect!