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

The Iran-Contra Exchange

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To execute these alternatives and elude the laws, the NSC assumed the roles and responsibilities formerly held by the CIA.  Lieutenant Colonel Oliver North directed these operations under National Security Advisor Robert McFarlane and Vice Admiral John Poindexter who succeeded McFarlane. In 1984, North recruited help from retired Air Force Major General Richard Secord.  


“Secord and his associate, Albert Hakim, created ’the Enterprise,’ a private organization designed to engage in covert activities on behalf of the United States.  The Enterprise functioning largely at North’s direction, had its own airplanes, pilots, airfield, operatives, ship, secure communications devices and secret Swiss bank accounts.”
- Lawrence E. Walsh, Iran Contra: The Final Report.
Click the buttons below to see the different exchanges which occurred in the Iran-Contra affair.
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Header Image:

Photo by illuminatirex.com, "US government traded arms for cash and hostages then used the proceeds to finance an illegal war in Nicaragua."

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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