Iran Contra
A secret deal with Iran, illegal funding for rebels, and a presidential denial that unraveled under the weight of shredded documents—the Iran–Contra affair.
In the mid-1980s, the Reagan administration danced on the edge of scandal: secretly selling U.S. arms to Iran, then funneling the profits to back the Contras in Nicaragua—despite Congress having banned such aid. HISTORY+3Wikipedia+3WebHelper+3 This two-pronged scheme—ostensibly to free American hostages held by Hezbollah in Lebanon—boldly flouted public policy, the law, and moral boundaries. Khan Academy+4PBS+4EBSCO+4 When Lebanese media exposed the labyrinth of secret pipelines in November 1986, the nation recoiled: Reagan first denied any deal, then later admitted parts of it—but insisted he never traded arms for hostages. EBSCO+5Wikipedia+5PBS+5 Unraveling that public facade were shredded documents, clandestine accounts, and the audacious figure of Lt. Col. Oliver North, orchestrating covert transactions from the shadows. Fiveable+4WebHelper+4PBS+4 The scandal shook the presidency, triggered congressional investigations and special counsel prosecutions, and raised a stark challenge: just how far can a president push the boundaries of power in the name of national interest? WebHelper+3EBSCO+3HISTORY+3