Interpret the Evidence and Put It in Context

Document Links:

Document 28.5 The Boland Amendments, 1982 and 1984

Document 28.6 CIA Freedom Fighter’s Manual, 1983

Document 28.7 Ronald Reagan, Speech on the Iran-Contra Affair, 1987

Document 28.8 Oliver North, Testimony to Congress, July 1987

Document 28.9 George Mitchell, Response to Oliver North, 1987

Interpret the Evidence

  1. Compare the 1982 and 1984 versions of the Boland Amendment (Document 28.5). How does the wording of the second version clarify Congress’s original intent?

  2. What, if anything, surprises you about the Freedom Fighter’s Manual (Document 28.6)? Why would it focus on these specific activities, and do you think they were effective?

  3. How politically effective was Reagan’s explanation of his Iran-Contra involvement (Document 28.7)?

  4. Why did Oliver North assume that President Reagan knew about his activities (Document 28.8)? How does his testimony compare with what Reagan says he knew (Document 28.7)? Can they both be right?

  5. How does Senator George Mitchell (Document 28.9) define patriotism differently than Oliver North?

Put It in Context

Compare the Iran-Contra affair with Watergate (chapter 27). How did Reagan’s presidency survive such a scandal when Nixon’s did not?

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