The Iran-Contra Affair: Patriotism or Politics?
  • Home
  • Introduction
  • Background
  • Encountering Restraints
    • The Boland Amendments
    • The Hughes-Ryan Amendment & Intelligence Oversight Act
    • Operation Staunch
    • The Arms Export Control Act
  • Exploring Alternatives
  • The Iran-Contra Exchange
    • Supporting the Contras >
      • Funding for Support
      • Military Support
      • Intelligence Support
    • Iranian Arms for Hostage Deals
  • Outcome
  • Conclusion
  • Legacy
  • More...
    • Annotated Bibliography
    • Interview Transcripts
    • Process Paper

Funding for Support

​The Enterprise supported the Contras through third-party funding, third-country funding and fund diversions.
North and his consultant, Richard Miller, used fundraisers Carl Channell and Daniel Conrad to raise $10 million for the cause. 
"North and Miller helped Carl R. 'Spitz' Channell raise $10 million, most of which went to Channell's tax-exempt organization, the National Endowment for the Preservation of Liberty (N.E.P.L)"
- John Woolley, "The Iran-Contra Report."
Picture
Image from authentichistory.com, "Carl 'Spitz' Channell, Contra Fund-raiser."
Newspaper Source: The Glasgow Herald

McFarlane and North convinced Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, and South Korea to donate over $32 million.
"The solicitation of foreign funds by an Administration to pursue foreign policy goals rejected by Congress is dangerous and improper. Such solicitations, when done secretly and without Congressional authorization, create a risk that the foreign country will expect and demand something in return."
- John Woolley, "The Iran-Contra Report"

Congressional funds given to the State Department’s Nicaraguan Humanitarian Assistance Office (NHAO) were secretly diverted to military support by Robert Owen, an NSC representative in the NHAO.
Picture
Photo from c-span.org, "Iran-Contra Investigation Day 9"
"North exploited Owen's new position by using his trips, funded by humanitarian aid dollars, to transfer and receive information about the Contra war and the fledgling resupply operation. Following his trips to Central America, Owen would submit two reports — one to NHAO describing humanitarian services performed and another to North describing his activities in coordinating lethal aid. The grant agreement with the State Department barred Owen from performing 'any service' related to lethal supply "during the term of this grant."
- Lee H. Hamilton and Daniel K. Inouye, "Report of the Congressional Committees Investigating the Iran/Contra Affair"
Finally, profits from weapon sales to Iran were diverted to the Contras, which broke multiple laws.

< Previous: Supporting The Contras

Header Image:

Photo by Remi Brulin, "The 'Save the Contras' posters were part of short-lived fund-raising campaign by college Republicans in 1985."

Next: Military Support >
Brian Holt
Senior Individual Website

Student Composed Words: 1,198
​Process Paper: 496


  • Home
  • Introduction
  • Background
  • Encountering Restraints
    • The Boland Amendments
    • The Hughes-Ryan Amendment & Intelligence Oversight Act
    • Operation Staunch
    • The Arms Export Control Act
  • Exploring Alternatives
  • The Iran-Contra Exchange
    • Supporting the Contras >
      • Funding for Support
      • Military Support
      • Intelligence Support
    • Iranian Arms for Hostage Deals
  • Outcome
  • Conclusion
  • Legacy
  • More...
    • Annotated Bibliography
    • Interview Transcripts
    • Process Paper