On May 5, 1987, the congressional hearings into the Iran Contra affair officially began in Washington D.C., putting one of the decade’s biggest political scandals in the national spotlight. The hearings were broadcast live and investigated the covert sale of arms to Iran and the illegal diversion of funds to support Contra rebels in Nicaragua.
The investigation featured dramatic testimonies from key figures including Oliver North and John Poindexter, and raised major questions about accountability, executive power, and foreign policy.
Fun fact: The hearings attracted over 30 million viewers at their peak and became a major media event, turning military officer Oliver North into a household name overnight.
The investigation featured dramatic testimonies from key figures including Oliver North and John Poindexter, and raised major questions about accountability, executive power, and foreign policy.
Fun fact: The hearings attracted over 30 million viewers at their peak and became a major media event, turning military officer Oliver North into a household name overnight.
