The scandal soon to be known as Iran-Contra—a covert initiative run from the Reagan White House that would result in criminal convictions of eleven administration officials—had been born. The two-line banner across the top of The New York Times’ front page on the morning after Meese’s announcement—“Iran Payment Found Diverted to Contras; Reagan Security Adviser and Aide Are Out”—reflected the political thunderbolt that had just hit Washington. Iran-Contra would consume journalists and congressional investigators for years.
