Iran-Contra Timeline

JANUARY 1979 -- Iranian revolution deposes the brutal Washington-backed Shah. The Shah had come to power in 1953 after a CIA-designed coup to oust democratically-elected President Mohammad Mossadeq.
JULY 1979 -- Lefist Sandinista revolution ousts Washington-backed right-wing Somoza regime in Nicaragua.
JANUARY 20, 1981 -- President Ronald Reagan inaugurated.
DECEMBER 1, 1981 -- Reagan issues Presidential Finding on Nicaragua, authorizing Washington support for right-wing Contra rebels.
DECEMBER 1982 -- Boland Amendment begins to limit funding for Reagan's Contra aid.
OCTOBER 1984 -- New Boland Amendment makes illegal any funding for Contras.
MARCH 16, 1985 -- Oliver North's “Fallback memo” discusses ways to circumvent Congressional barring of funds for Contra war.
AUGUST 1985 -- Reagan Administration begins selling arms to the Islamic Republic of Iran, then engaged in a devastating war with Iraq.
AUGUST 20, 1985 -- American hostage Benjamin Weir released by Islamic Jihad/Hezbollah in Lebanon hours after the transfer of 96 TOW missiles to Iran
DECEMBER 20, 1985 -- Associated Press is first to report cocaine trafficking operations by Contras.
APRIL 4, 1986 -- Oliver North drafts the “Diversion Memo,” which orders a continuation of arms sales to Iran after the release of hostages with the new revenue being diverted to the Contras.
NOVEMBER 3, 1986 -- Iranian cleric Mehdi Hashemi leaks news of the arms trade to a Lebanese newspaper. It is the first public revelation of the trade.
NOVEMBER 13, 1986 -- Just ten days after Hashemi leaks news of the secret dealings, President Reagan delivers an address from the Oval Office denying the arms-for-hostages trade.
NOVEMBER 21, 1986 -- Just days after Reagan takes to national television to deliver a series of dangerous untruths on the Iran-Contra matter, Oliver North and his secretary shred every document related to the illegal dealings. Oliver North refers to it secretly as a “shredding party” (which would have been a such great band name).
NOVEMBER 22, 1986 -- "Diversion Memo" discovered in North's files
DECEMBER 1, 1986 -- Reagan convenes the Tower Commission to investigate Iran-Contra.
LATE FEBRUARY 1987 -- Tower Commission finishes its report.
MARCH 4, 1987 -- Pres. Reagan is forced to speak to the nation on the Tower Commission findings, which contradicts almost entirely Reagan's speech from three months before.
APRIL 13, 1989 -- Kerry Committee report released by Senators John Kerry and Christopher Dodd. The report builds on the findings of the Tower Commission in its revelations of significant cocaine trafficking by Washington-backed Contras.
MAY 4, 1989 -- Oliver North convicted on three counts related to his involvement in Iran-Contra.
JULY 20, 1990 -- North's convictions are vacated.
AUGUST 1993 -- Independent Counsel final report published.
AUGUST 1996 -- San Jose Mercury News publishes Gary Webb's “Dark Alliance” three-part series alleging CIA involvement in Contra cocaine trafficking.
OCTOBER 23, 1996 -- CIA Inspector General announces investigation into Webb's allegations.
MARCH 16, 1998 -- CIA Inspector General Frederick Hitz appears before Congressional committee to deliver Volume I of the agency's investigation into drug trafficking.
DECEMBER 10, 2004 -- Gary Webb is found dead of an apparent suicide.