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Sandinista guerillas overthrow a right-wing dictatorship in Nicaragua.
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Hostages
Islamic militants take 52 American hostage inside the US embassy in Iran.
U.S. passes and embargo against selling weapons to Iran. -
Reagan Sworn In to Office
Ronald Reagan assumes office; Iranian hostages releases the same day. -
Supporting the Cause
Reagan signs and executive order to authorize a covert C.I.A. operation to support the Contras, a right-wing rebel group who seek to overthrow the leftist Sandinista government of Nicaragua. -
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Boland Amendments
Evidence of U.S. efforts to overthrow the Sandinistas leaks out to the press, including C.I.A. sabotage manuals.
Congress passes Boland Amendments, barring the use of federal money to overthrow the Nicaraguan government. -
Introducing Hezbollah
Hezbollah, a political paramilitary group backed by Iran, begins taking hostages in Lebanon to protest the imprisonment by American-backed governments of their allies in other parts of the Middle-East -
Robert McFarlane
President Reagan approves Robert McFarland's idea to negotiate with Iran for the release of Hezbollah's hostages. -
Reagan and Admin Go Rogue...
Reagan administration secretly negotiated to sell weapons to Iran in exchange for help securing the release of American hostages in Lebanon. -
Reagan Addresses the Nation
President addresses the nation... "We did not-repeat-did not trade weapons or anything else for hostages nor will we." -
Reagan Lied
At a White Hose news conference corrects President Reagan statement of denying Israel's involvement by starting there was indeed a third country involved. -
Fired
The Attorney General discloses the Iran-Contra connection.
President Reagan announces the firing of Oliver North and the other resignations of officials involved with the scandals. -
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Congress Investigation
Congress holds a series of investigations, brings down indictments, and hears appeals. In December 1992, President George H.W. Bush pardoned six people involved in the scandal, including McFarlane