The irancontra affair american experience official site. The congressional committees investigating the irancontra affair were committees of the united states house of representatives and of the united states senate formed in january 1987 to investigate the irancontra affair. How americans challenged the media and seized political initiative during the iran contra debate hardcover. William barr and the irancontra scandal the millennium report. United states court of appeals for the district of columbia circuit division for the purpose of appointing independent counsel division no. Many comparisons have been made between russiagate and the earlier scandals of watergate and iran contra, but the similarities are at best superficial, explained robert parry on june 28, 2017.
William barr and the irancontra scandal the millennium. So, i justtook it from the authors name of a book i happened to be readingat the time. The committees held joint hearings and issued a joint report. Sep 03, 2010 national archives and records administration iran contra hearings, 07141987 u. The senates final report on irancontra showed extent to. Cia involvement in trafficking is usually alleged to be connected to the contra war in nicaragua and the irancontra affair during the reagan administration. Walsh independent counsel august 4, 1993 washington, d. The irancontra affair was the product of two separate initiatives during the administration of president ronald reagan. In under fire we hear his story, presented as a fastpaced autobiographical narrative. East also built an airstrip in costa rica near the nicaraguan border. In 1986 its spokesman acknowledged that funds from sales of cocaine smuggled into the us had helped fund the contra rebels, but said that the smuggling was not authorized by the us. Democrats with dreams of impeachment should consider how iran. This book is a very good overview of the irancontra scandal, and it is well written.
Nov 10, 2006 the iran contra scandal, 1991 confirmation hearings, and excerpts from new book safe for democracy. Joint housesenate irancontra committee history commons. The final report on irancontra, which has rarely been seen but was found in the crest archive, makes this explicitly clear. Democrats with dreams of impeachment should consider how. The hearings ran from 5 may 1987 to 6 august 1987, and the report was published in november, with a. Popular iran contra affair books goodreads share book. In the televised iran contra hearings, north was asked by congressman brooks to discuss the alleged contingency plan to suspend the american constitution. Many comparisons have been made between russiagate and the earlier scandals of watergate and irancontra, but the similarities are at best superficial, explained robert parry on june 28, 2017. A very thin line the irancontra affairs by theodore draper 690 pages. Senator howell heflin discussed the start of the iran contra hearings and news of the day. The televised, public irancontra hearings consumed the better part of four months from may to august 1987. If youre old enough to remember the irancontra affair, this book will either seem incredible or a validation of what you suspected.
In the first day of testimony before the joint housesenate irancontra committee see may 5, 1987, general richard secord see september 19, 1986 testifies that cia director william casey was one of the driving forces behind the illegal sales of arms to iran, and the equally illegal diversion of profits from those arms to the nicaraguan. The iran contra affair 20 years on documents spotlight role of reagan, top aides. The irancontra affair 19861987 the washington post. The irancontra affair 20 years on documents spotlight role of reagan, top aides. Bush, one must grasp the significance of irancontra, the massive criminal operation that was the cornerstone of the bush era, headed by the bushes, with the clintons as partners. New york times, june 5, 2001 during the irancontra hearings, gadd testified under a grant of immunity from prosecution, and neither he nor east was accused of illegalities. The robert gates file the irancontra scandal, 1991 confirmation hearings, and excerpts from new book safe for democracy. As the mosaic of the irancontra affair comes together, the deception by key figures in the reagan administration is increasingly evident. His diaries, email, and memos on the kerry report, contras and drugs. In the first day of testimony before the joint housesenate iran contra committee see may 5, 1987, general richard secord see september 19, 1986 testifies that cia director william casey was one of the driving forces behind the illegal sales of arms to iran, and the equally illegal diversion of profits from those arms to the nicaraguan. The irancontra conspiracy and coverup by lawrence e. Perfectly staged for a telegenic soldier, they made gaptoothed ollie north hero to the right, not for glory in battle but for traducing his oath to the constitution and the military code of justice.
The irancontra affair american experience official site pbs. Irancontra hearings contradict rule of law speeches. Senator howell heflin discussed the start of the irancontra hearings and news of the day. The hearings ran from 5 may 1987 to 6 august 1987, and the.
Caso irancontra, popularized in iran as the mcfarlane affair, the irancontra scandal, or simply irancontra, was a political scandal in the united states that occurred during the second term of the reagan administration. The right used the same approach to push the gunsmoke marshal dillon awshucks tone. Oliver north is sworn in july 7, 1987, before the congressional committee investigating the iran contra affair. Reagans scandal and the unchecked abuse of presidential power ebook. Reagans scandal and the unchecked abuse of presidential power by malcolm byrne. Bretton sciaroni testified concerning an investigation he conducted for the intelligence oversight board which. Eidenmuller, published by mcgrawhill 2008 audio and image. Of the hearings, robert white, who served as ambassador to paraguay from 1976 to 1980, stated, what we saw in the iran contra hearings, was the.
Mar 11, 2010 1987 arc identifier 11190 local identifier 46ic8707141427. Democrats with dreams of impeachment should consider how iran contra turned. The robert gates file the iran contra scandal, 1991 confirmation hearings, and excerpts from new book safe for democracy. Democrats with dreams of impeachment should consider how irancontra turned out. Congressional committees investigating the irancontra affair. Zinn blamed reagan for lying and makes it out to be a huge scandal. From the man who mesmerized the american public through the irancontra hearings, we would expect nothing less than a bravura performance. Knowledge of drug trafficking and the contras the national security archive obtained the handwritten notebooks of oliver north, the national security council aide who helped run the contra war and other reagan administration covert operations, through a freedom of information act lawsuit filed in 1989. North, oliver oliver north testifying at the iran contra.
Not only was it completed after the irancontra hearings, it used information that had been denied to. A courtappointed independent counsel undertook a highpro. Final report of the independent counsel for iran contra matters volume i. Reading this hefty book is the next best thing to watching a summer rerun. The iran contra affair was the product of two separate initiatives during the administration of president ronald reagan.
How iran and contra came to be said in the same breath was the result of complicated covert activities, all carried out, the players said, in the name of democracy. Iran contra affair assignment step 1 ashley a zinn in order to fund cia contra basically terrorists operations on nicaragua it was illegal for the us to be involved in nicaragua reagan looked for funding from other countries including saudi arabia and iran. In either case, it almost pales in comparison to nixons sabotoge of the viet nam peace agreement so he could get elected and carry on the war for two more bloody years. National archives and records administration iran contra hearings, 07141987 u. On may 5, 1987, the world tuned in to watch the joint hearings of house select committee to investigate covert arms transactions with iran and the senate select committee on secret military assistance to iran and the nicaraguan oppositionsoon to be known as the irancontra hearings. Popular iran contra affair books showing 15 of 5 drift. Representative thomas foley discussed testimony from the iran contra hearings. Battling the cubanbacked sandinistas, the contras were, according to reagan, the moral equivalent of our founding fathers.
It may interest you to know that we have concluded our hearings in 41 days of testimony, which includes one day of executive session, and this was in accordance with our. It began in 1985, when president ronald reagans administration supplied weapons to irana. Cia involvement in contra cocaine trafficking wikipedia. To understand the scope, scale, and gravity of william barrs central role working for george h. What are quality books about the irancontra affair. Oliver north is sworn in july 7, 1987, before the congressional committee investigating the irancontra affair.
Irancontra hearings closing statement ladies and gentlemen, the public phase of our hearings is now over. In the televised irancontra hearings, north was asked by congressman brooks to discuss the alleged contingency plan to suspend the american constitution. Congress or violated the stated public policy of the government. Final report of the independent counsel for irancontra matters volume i. Congress launched investigations, including three months of televised hearings. National security archive electronic briefing book no. Moreover, the website details the medias discovery and later press coverage of the affairs, and the subsequent televised congressional hearings. Iran contra hearings closing statement ladies and gentlemen, the public phase of our hearings is now over. Senate select committee on secret military assistance to iran and the nicaraguan opposition, 07141987 u. At the center of the discussion of the irancontra scandal in the three.
C in the case of nicaragua, the focus was on destabilizing the government and engineering the overthrow of the marxistoriented sandinista regime. One of the most complicated and intriguefilled scandals in recent decades. Said he felt betrayed by the iran contra operation and by what he sees as misleading statements about the initiative to congress. Said he felt betrayed by the irancontra operation and by what he sees as misleading statements about the initiative to congress. List of books and articles about irancontra affair online. Jul 25, 2017 democrats with dreams of impeachment should consider how iran contra turned out. Consortium news record on russiagatehow cn covered the. Congressional committees investigating the irancontra. If youre old enough to remember the iran contra affair, this book will either seem incredible or a validation of what you suspected. The hearings were called to order about two months. The irancontra affair was a clandestine action not approved of by the united states congress. After the irancontra scandal broke in late 1986, no issue or controversy more captivated the nations attention.
The irancontra scandal, 1991 confirmation hearings, and excerpts from new book safe for democracy. Until last week the irancontra scandal seemed ready to fade from the courts, the news and the mind. Democrats with dreams of impeachment should consider how irancontra turned. I believe that these hearings, perhaps unintentionally so, have revealed matters of great secrecy in the operation of our government. Two months later, a thirteenweek congressional hearing began concerning u. List of books and articles about irancontra affair. North, oliver oliver north testifying at the irancontra. Everything in that book is a product of the attorneyclient and. These claims have led to investigations by the united states government, including hearings and reports by the united states house of representatives, senate. Joint hearings before the senate select committee on secret military assistance to iran and the nicaraguan opposition and the house select committee to investigate covert arms transactions with iran u. The best books on the irancontra affair 2020 the strategist new.
Irancontra affair president ronald reagan receiving the tower commission report, following the irancontra affair, february 26, 1987. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Irancontra the former attorney general, nominated to return to run the justice department, backed president george h. Iran contra affair scandal that erupted after the reagan administration sold weapons to iran in hopes of freeing american hostages in lebanon. In short, as the books subtitle indicates, this was reagans scandal. How americans challenged the media and seized political initiative during the irancontra debate hardcover. Understanding the irancontra affairs provides information about the rise of the contra rebels in nicaragua and about the iranian revolution, as well as the u. It actually goes into great depth about the intricate activities that encompassed the selling of arms to iran and the funding of the contras.
Thought control in democratic societies paperback by. The irancontra affair american experience official. This report and more than two dozen appendix volumes was issued by the joint congressional committee which conducted a far more extensive investigation of the sales of arms to iran and the use of that money to fund the nicaraguan contras. For the next year, the irancontra scandal dominated u. The senates final report on irancontra showed extent to which the investigation had been stonewalled. The desire to fund the sandinista rebellion in nicaragua ultimately has been combined. A number of writers have alleged that the united states central intelligence agency cia was involved in cocaine trafficking during the 1980s. Full text transcript and audio of oliver north opening statement at iran contra hearings lieutenant colonel oliver north. Of the hearings, robert white, who served as ambassador to paraguay from 1976 to 1980, stated, what we saw in the irancontra hearings, was the. A a sworn enemy a in hopes of securing the release of american hostages held in lebanon by hezbollah terrorists loyal to the ayatollah khomeini, irans leader. Senator inouye, the committee chairman, twice intervened, ruling that the question was highly sensitive and classified, and should only be discussed in executive session. Finally, ladies and gentlemen, it takes little sophistication to realize that the motive for the irancontra hearings was an attempt to weaken a popular republican president and to provide support for a potential impeachment against him, but as we realize, even impeachment proceedings by a joint senatehouse committee is unconstitutional, and.