Iran-Contra Quotes

“Ironically, even the torrent of media coverage figured as an additional reason, creating a kind of scandal fatigue as allegations surfaced, often in the form of anonymous leaks, and were initially spun by an administration under intense political heat, then dismissed as “old news” when later confirmed by hard evidence.”
― Malcolm Byrne, Iran-Contra: Reagan's Scandal and the Unchecked Abuse of Presidential Power

“On one occasion in late 1984, he [Robert McFarlane] gave Reagan a large binder containing an assortment of possible major policy initiatives, asking him to choose two in order to maximize attention on each. When he returned, Reagan's response was a genial, "Let's do them all!" ([James] Baker had gone through a similar experience the year before when he discovered Reagan had chosen to watch The Sound of Music on television over preparing for the Williamsburg economic summit the following day.) The ease with which the president abdicated responsibility on issues of such importance was a defining feature of his approach to management. It was also an essential precondition for the excesses of Iran-Contra.”
― Malcolm Byrne, Iran-Contra: Reagan's Scandal and the Unchecked Abuse of Presidential Power

“Few confrontations became more bitter, however, than those affecting the Contras—especially in the military sphere. The U.S. public still did buy into the administration's alarmist views, and congressional opponents remained suspicious their restrictions on U.S. support were being routinely ignored. This was, in fact, the case. As the president's second term got under way, NSC staff and their private-sector collaborators solidified their control over rebel activities (particularly weapons purchases) and scrambled to build a viable resupply operation that could fly—literally and politically—under the radar.”
― Malcolm Byrne, Iran-Contra: Reagan's Scandal and the Unchecked Abuse of Presidential Power

“Between November and December 1985, the Iran initiative reached its nadir. Despite the failure of the Iranian middlemen to obtain freedom for the hostages as promised after the first TOW shipments, Washington and Tel Aviv persuaded themselves they could turn the operation around. However, the next transaction—involving sophisticated antiaircraft missiles—imploded spectacularly after a series of logistical blunders and miscommunications. Worse, overeager U.S. officials crossed lines of operational and legal propriety, leading the CIA, among others, to protect not only itself but the president from charges serious enough to raise the prospect of impeachment. At a closely held White House meeting afterward, Ronald Reagan surprised his most senior aides by vowing to keep the operation alive regardless of the penalty.”
― Malcolm Byrne, Iran-Contra: Reagan's Scandal and the Unchecked Abuse of Presidential Power