Presidential Controversies: Iran-Conta
On May 5, 1987, Congressional hearings began into something which became known as the Iran-Contra Affair. Opponents of President Ronald Reagan were hoping to find evidence which would implicate the President in an illegal "arms for hostages" deal. While the was no evidence found to show that Reagan was involved in any illegal activity, the incident left Reagan's image as commander-in-chief tarnished and made him appear out of control with what was taking place in his administration's foreign affairs sector on his watch.
The Iran-Conta scheme concerned an operation to free seven American hostages being held by a terrorist group with Iranian ties. A plan was concocted by which Israel would ship weapons to Iran, and then the U.S. would resupply Israel and receive the Israeli payment. The Iranian recipients promised to do everything in their power to effect the release of six U.S. hostages. The plan became an arms-for-hostages scheme, in which members of the executive branch sold weapons to Iran in exchange for the release of the American hostages. Much of the plan was devised by Lieutenant Colonel Oliver North of the National Security Council in late 1985. North's plan included a scheme by which a portion of the proceeds from the weapon sales was diverted to fund anti-Sandinista and anti-communist rebels, or Contras, in Nicaragua.
One of the human interest stories that came out during the hearings was the story of North's secretary, Fawn Hall. She began work at the National Security Council for North on February 26, 1983. Her mother, Wilma Hall, was secretary to Robert McFarlane, Reagan's national security advisor and North's superior. McFarlane was also a major player in Iran-Contra. In June of 1987, 28 years ago, she began two days of testimony in front of Congress. She confessed to altering and shredding a large number of documents (so many that the office shredder jammed), and smuggling others, in her boots and inside her clothing to give them to North on November 25, 1986. North had been fired by then after his role in orchestrating potentially illegal aid to the Nicaraguan contras became public. During her other testimony, she said "Sometimes you have to go above the law." Hall was granted immunity in exchange for her testimony against North.
President Ronald Reagan was a supporter of the Contra cause, but despite accusations to the contrary, no conclusive evidence has been found showing that he authorized the diversion of the money raised by the Iranian arms sales to the Contras. After the weapon sales were revealed in November 1986, Reagan appeared on national television and stated that the weapons transfers had indeed occurred, but that the United States did not trade arms for hostages. An investigation into these allegations was hampered when large volumes of documents relating to the scandal were destroyed or withheld from investigators.
On March 4, 1987, in a nationally televised address, Reagan accepted full responsibility for his own actions and for those of his administration, including activities undertaken without his knowledge. In the same broadcast, he stated that "what began as a strategic opening to Iran deteriorated, in its implementation, into trading arms for hostages."
Several investigations ensued, including those by the United States Congress and the three-man, Reagan-appointed Tower Commission. Neither of these groups found any evidence that President Reagan himself knew of the extent of the multiple programs. In the end, fourteen administration officials were indicted, including then-Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger. Eleven convictions resulted, some of which were vacated on appeal. The rest of those indicted or convicted were all pardoned in the final days of the presidency of George H. W. Bush, who had been vice-president at the time of the affair.
Following is a portion of President Reagan's televised address of March 4, 1987.
The Iran-Conta scheme concerned an operation to free seven American hostages being held by a terrorist group with Iranian ties. A plan was concocted by which Israel would ship weapons to Iran, and then the U.S. would resupply Israel and receive the Israeli payment. The Iranian recipients promised to do everything in their power to effect the release of six U.S. hostages. The plan became an arms-for-hostages scheme, in which members of the executive branch sold weapons to Iran in exchange for the release of the American hostages. Much of the plan was devised by Lieutenant Colonel Oliver North of the National Security Council in late 1985. North's plan included a scheme by which a portion of the proceeds from the weapon sales was diverted to fund anti-Sandinista and anti-communist rebels, or Contras, in Nicaragua.
One of the human interest stories that came out during the hearings was the story of North's secretary, Fawn Hall. She began work at the National Security Council for North on February 26, 1983. Her mother, Wilma Hall, was secretary to Robert McFarlane, Reagan's national security advisor and North's superior. McFarlane was also a major player in Iran-Contra. In June of 1987, 28 years ago, she began two days of testimony in front of Congress. She confessed to altering and shredding a large number of documents (so many that the office shredder jammed), and smuggling others, in her boots and inside her clothing to give them to North on November 25, 1986. North had been fired by then after his role in orchestrating potentially illegal aid to the Nicaraguan contras became public. During her other testimony, she said "Sometimes you have to go above the law." Hall was granted immunity in exchange for her testimony against North.
President Ronald Reagan was a supporter of the Contra cause, but despite accusations to the contrary, no conclusive evidence has been found showing that he authorized the diversion of the money raised by the Iranian arms sales to the Contras. After the weapon sales were revealed in November 1986, Reagan appeared on national television and stated that the weapons transfers had indeed occurred, but that the United States did not trade arms for hostages. An investigation into these allegations was hampered when large volumes of documents relating to the scandal were destroyed or withheld from investigators.
On March 4, 1987, in a nationally televised address, Reagan accepted full responsibility for his own actions and for those of his administration, including activities undertaken without his knowledge. In the same broadcast, he stated that "what began as a strategic opening to Iran deteriorated, in its implementation, into trading arms for hostages."
Several investigations ensued, including those by the United States Congress and the three-man, Reagan-appointed Tower Commission. Neither of these groups found any evidence that President Reagan himself knew of the extent of the multiple programs. In the end, fourteen administration officials were indicted, including then-Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger. Eleven convictions resulted, some of which were vacated on appeal. The rest of those indicted or convicted were all pardoned in the final days of the presidency of George H. W. Bush, who had been vice-president at the time of the affair.
Following is a portion of President Reagan's televised address of March 4, 1987.