Nov 04 Hostages taken at US embassy in Iran
Nov 14 US imposes embargo on arms shipments to Iran
1980
Apr 07 US cut ties with Iran
Apr 17 US banned imports from Iran
Apr 15 Failed US rescue mission
May 31 Aid bill passed for Nicaragua
Sep 22 Iran-Iraq war begins
1981
Jan 20 Reagan Inauguration
Jan 20 US embassy hostages Freed
February 1981 Reagan suspend aid to Nicaragua
August 1981 North joins NCS
December 1981 Reagan signs Contra Aid - Reagan signs National Intelligence Finding
1982 June 08 Project Democracy - North describe this as funding for covert operation.
July 1982 US becomes aware of Iran's support for international terrorism
Dec 21 First Boland Amendment - Bars CIA and Defense Department from spending money towards overthrow of Sandinistas
1983 Spring 1983 Operation Staunch - State Department effort to discourage other countries from selling arms to Iran.
Apr 27 Reagan addresses congress on Central America. Defends aid to Contras
September 1983 First Presidential Finding on Contras signed
Oct 17 McFarlane appointed National Security Advisor
Oct 23 Beirut - US servicemen killed in attack by pro-Iranian Lebanese
Nov 3 Meeting between Rodriguez, Gregg and Vice President Bush
Nov 18 Project America approved
December 1983 Congress imposes cap of $24 million on Contra aid
Dec 8 Second Boland Amendment approved
Dec 12 Bombings in Kuwait - seventeen terrorists convicted
1984
Jan 20 Operation Staunch - Shultz declares Iran sponsor of international
terrorism.
Jan 23 More controls on exports to Iran
Feb 10 Reiger kidnapped in Lebanon
Mar 7 Levin kidnapped in Lebanon
Mar 16 CIA Station Chief in Beirut kidnapped - William Buckley
Mar 27 Contra Aid solicited from Israel
April 1984 Contra Aid solicited from Saudi Arabia
Apr 6 Wall Street Journal reports CIA Mining harbor in Nicaragua
May 1984 Saudi Arabia agrees to contribute $1 million per month to Contras
May 8 Weir kidnapped in Lebanon
May 28 Stinger missiles sent to Saudi Arabia
June 25 Contra Aid rejected by congress
Summer 1984 Iran seeks TOW Missiles. North recruits Secord at Casey's suggestion
July 1984 Secord and North set up private arms sales to Contras
July 6 Saudi Arabia send first $1 million in Contra Aid
Sep 2 Contra loose their only helicopter in northern front. North wants to
replace it. McFarlane thinks this is illegal
Sep 15 CIA transfers surplus aircraft to Contras
Sep 27 State Department announces new restriction on shipments to Iran.
Oct 12 Third Boland Amendment
Oct 12 "Contra Manual" developed by CIA is made public
Nov 07 North send McFarlane intelligence memo supporting Contras
Nov 08 Contra Aid ban - intelligence fund bans money for Contras. White House
decided ban did not include NSC
Nov 19 Shackley and Ghorbanifar discuss US paying ransom for hostages and
trade US TOWs missiles for captured Soviet weapons.
December 1984 First of North's weapons shipments leave Portugal for Honduras
Dec 03 Peter Kilburn kidnapped in Lebanon
Dec 4-12 Kuwait airliner hijacked. Flown to Tehran. Two Americans killed. Iran
refuses to extradite kidnappers.
Dec 11 CIA tells Poindexter there are no intelligence assets in Iran
1985
Jan 08 Rev. Lawrence Jenco kidnapped in Lebanon
Jan 18 Finding sign by RWR requiring additional interagency evaluation of
all covert activities.
Jan 22 Rodriguez - Bush meet. Rodriguez wants to work with El Salvador
on counterinsurgency
February - May Secord makes first of four private arms sales to Contras
Feb 11-12 Saudi King Fahd visits RWR. Agrees to pay 2 million per month in Contra
Support.
Feb 13 Jeremy Levine escapes from kidnappers
Mar 11 Terry Anderson kidnapped in Beirut
Mar 16 North proposes RWR solicit private funding for Contras if congress won't
fund Contras
Apr 04 RWR proposes cease-fire between Sandinistas and Contras
Apr 11 North tells McFarlane Contras are running out of money.
Apr 23 House rejects Contra funding
May 01 President imposes economic sanctions on Nicaragua
May 28 David Jacobsen kidnapped in Beirut
June 1985 Coors tells Casey he wants to help Contras. Casey sends Coors to North.
June 3 William Buckley dies while being held by kidnappers
June 7 Shackley Report. Iran wants dialogue with US and quid pro quo on
issues other than money
June 7
June -July Taiwan gives aid to Contras
June 1985 Southern front begins from airfield in Costa Rica.
July 3 David Kimche, director general of Israelis foreign ministry tells
McFarlane, Israel has opened dialogue with Iran.
July 8 President's speech before American Bar Association...claims Iran part
of "Confederation of terrorist states...America will never make concessions to
terrorists."
July 11 Hostage - Arms swap proposed by Israeli arms dealer Schimmer
Mid July 1985 McFarlane visits RWR in hospital and briefs him on arms for hostage
Aug 2 McFarlane meets with Kimche. Iran wants 100 TOW misses for release of
all hostages in Beirut. There are conflicting reports concerning RWR's approval of plan.
Aug 6 Shultz opposes plan for Israel to transfer 100 TOW missiles to Iran.
Aug 8 National Security Planning Group meeting on Kimche plan to swap 100
TOW missiles for hostages. Shultz and Weinberger against plan. Not clear who else opposes plan
or if RWR approves.
Aug 15 Contra aid resumes again.
Aug 30 Israel transfers 100 TOW missiles to Iran.
Early September 1985 North goes to Lebanon to take control of hostage release.
Sep 4 On anniversary of Iranian revolution, the president and prime minister
attack Soviet Union. No mention of USA.
Sep 10-12 Kimche tell McFarlane to expect hostage release and for him to pick one.
McFarlane chooses Buckley. Buckley died earlier. McFarlane chooses Wier who is released
Sep 15.
Sep 14 An additional 408 TOWs transferred to Iran. Iran pays Ghorbanifar for
TOWs
Sep 20 North writes Rodriguez that two planes are being sent to Contras
October Taiwan contribute to Contras
Oct 7 Cruise Ship Hijacked -Achille Lauro. American Leon Klinghoffer killed.
Early November Israel inquires if it could buy more TOWs to replace those sold to Iran.
Nov 14 Terry Waite reported that kidnappers are under pressure and they may kill
hostages. Also reports Buckley dead.
Nov 19 North request Secord's help in transferring missiles from Israel to Iran.
Nov 22-25 Two separate shipment of Hawk missiles are flown to Iran. Both are
rejected and to be returned. Money is returned to Iran.
Dec 4 Poindexter named to succeed McFarlane.
Dec 4 Congress allows intelligence aid to Contras
Dec 5 RWR signs intelligence Finding on arms for hostage. Finding is
retroactive. Ponidexter replaces McFarlane as National Security Advisor.
Dec 5 North outlines plan to sell 3300 TOW missiles and fifty improved
Hawk missiles to Iran for all US hostages and one French hostage.
Dec 7 RWR meets with national security advisors on Iran. Shultz and
Weinberger are against plan. Casey favors the plan
Dec 9 North writes McFarlane and Poindexter that there is fifth option
using Secord to deliver arms. A Finding would be necessary.
1986
Jan 2 Nir through North proposes new arms sale of 4,000 TOWs for release of
all hostage and exchange of Hizballah prisoners held by Southern Lebanon Army. Arms would
come from Israel stocks to be replaced later by US.
Jan 6 RWR signs draft Finding along Nir's proposal not realizing that this was a
draft.
Jan 9 Finding signed by RWR authorizing CIA intelligence to Contras'
Jan 11 Ghorbanifar takes polygraph and does not pass.
Jan 12 Koch meets Avarham Ben Yousef of the Israeli Ministry of Defense
and set $4,500 as price per TOW to be sold to Iran.
Jan 16 CIA warns again not to trust Ghorbanifar
Jan 17 Finding signed on sale of arms to Iran. RWR agrees to direct arms
sale. Weinberger directs Major General Colin Powel to arrange the sale.
Jan 21 North requests Swiss bank account. Late January the idea of
diversion of profits from Iran arms sale to Contra came about. Several sources are given credit for
coming up with the idea.
Jan 24 North's plan for hostage release. Called "Operation Recovery." The
plan:
February Poindexter approves transfer of funds by North to Contras
Feb 05 North goes to London and meets with Ghorbanifar, Nir and Iranian
contacts.
Feb 10 - April 11 Financing of the deal:
Mar 5 Congress is notified of transfer of TOWs to CIA
Apr 3-4 North and CIA official meet with Ghorbanifar
Apr 4 North writes memo on diverting fund from Iran to Contras
Apr 11 First Enterprise mission to resupply Contra take place
Apr 14 US Hostage Peter Kilburn killed and two British hostages (Leigh Douglas
and Philip Padfield) are killed. Reportedly because US bombed Libya.
Apr 15 Ellen St. John Garwood transferred $2 million to National Endowment for
the Preservation of Liberty.
Apr 16 Poindexter told North no more arms without hostages being released.
Apr 21 North tells McFarlane Iran wants more concessions. McFarlane will not let
Hawk spare parts go until Hostages are released
Apr 22 US Customs Service break up ring in NY to sell arms to Iran. Ghorbanifar
is arrested in Switzerland because he invested in scheme
May Perot ransom attempt fails. $200,000 placed in Swiss account for North's
children if he should die.
May 1 Rodriguez and Bush meet.
May 8 North informs Poindexter of Israel's offer for Contra aid.
May 14 - August Financing the arms deal:
June 8 Miami Herald runs front page article "Despite Ban, US Helping
Contras." Names North
June 12 CIA pays Defense Department $5.6 million for TOWs. Paid in several
checks below limit to notify congress.
June 25 House approves $100 millions for Contras
June 30 Iran discovers they have been over charged for Hawk missile parts and
some part are not good.
July 26 Father Jenco released. Arranged by Ghorbanifar and Israelis
July 29 North memo to Ponidexter predicts hostages will be killed if Hawk parts
aren't delivered
Aug 8 240 Hawk missile parts shipped to Iran. Sultan of Brunei is solicited
for $10 million for Contras. Money transferred to wrong Swiss Account
Sep 9 American, Frank Reed taken hostage in Lebanon
Sep 12 American, Joseph Cicippio taken hostage in Lebanon
Sep 25 Costa Rican official announce discovery of secret airstrip
Oct 5 Hasenfus flight shot down over Nicaragua
Oct 8 Administration begin denials of any US participation in flight.
Oct 13 - Nov 4 Casey tells North that"...this whole thing was coming unravelled
and that things ought to be 'cleaned up.'" North begins shredding documents
Oct 21 Edward Austin Tracy is kidnapped in Beirut by pro-Iranians.
Oct 28 500 TOWs delivered to Iran from Israel's stock and will be replaced with
updated TWOs later
Nov 2 David Jacobsen released
Nov 3 Lebanese newspaper, Al-Shiraa, reports US sold arms to Iran
November North and Casey discuss who will be fall guy.
Nov 6 RWR states that there is "no foundation" for arms sale claims
Nov 13 RWR address to nation: "We did not-repeat-did not trade weapons or
anything else for hostages nor will we."
Nov 19 At news conference: US involved only after Jan 17 Finding. Only 1000
TOWs were shipped and everything else would fit in one cargo plane. RWR denies Israel
involved in shipment of arms. White House issues correction that there was third
country involved.
Nov 20 Shultz informs RWR of misstatement at press conference
Nov 21
Dec 1 Senate select committee begins preliminary inquiry.
December North and Poindexeter pled fifth amendment before congress
Dec 6 LA Times story of Abram's trip to London to solicit aid from
Brunei.
Dec 13 Meeting of Second Channel in Frankfort. This is first meeting with State Department present. Shultz learns of nine-point plan.
Dec 14 Shultz reports to RWR the nine-point plan. RWR is "Stunned and Furious"
Dec 16-17 Senate, followed the next day by the House of Representatives name
Inouye and Hamilton to chair investigation into Iran-Contra Affair.
Dec 19 Independent council, Lawrence Walsh, appointed
1987
Feb 01
Mar 03 Poindexter take demotion rather than resign.
Mar 04
Apr 08
May 02 NY Times reports North convinced China and Poland to sell to Contras at
same time they gave to Sandinistas.
May 05
Joint hearings of Congressional Select Committees begin.
Jun 02 Abrams testimony - admit former testimony a mistake (did not
inform congress he solicited money from Sultan of Brunei.)
Jun 03
Jul 07
NORTH TESTIFIES
Aug 02 Weinberger concludes testimony
Aug 03 FINAL DAY OF IRAN CONTRA HEARINGS
Aug 05 RWR praise congress for new Contra aid.
Aug 07 RWR signed agreement with congress - no covert operations without
informing congress.
Aug 12
RWR address to nation:
"Our original initiative got all tangled up in the sale of arms, and the sale of arms got tangled
up with the hostages...I let my preoccupation with the hostages intrude into areas where it didn't
belong."
Joint hearings held May 05 to Aug 15, 1987
Aug 20
Sep 30 GAO report states S/LPD conducted "white propaganda operations" in
effort to influence public opinion.
Nov 18 Congressional committees' report on Iran-Contra affair places blame on
RWR for wrong doing of his aides.
Dec 16 Michael K. Deaver convicted on perjury counts resulting from lobbying
activities. He was RWR's deputy chief of staff until May 1985.
Dec 22 Contra aid appropriation passed and signed for nonlethal aid.
1988
Mar 11 McFarlane pleads guilty to four counts of withholding information from
congress on Contras.
Mar 16 Poindexter, North, Secord and Hakim indicted on twenty-three counts.
Some charges later dropped because administration refused to release documents.
1989 Feb 21 North trial begins. Trial reveals numerous "quid pro quo" arrangements with numerous governments.
Mar 3 McFarlane receives two years probation, $20,000 fine and 200 hours community service.
May 4 North found guilty on three counts and not guilty on nine counts.
July 5 North sentenced to 1200 hours community service and $150,000 fine.
Nov 8 Secord plea bargains to one count and sentenced to two years' probation.
Nov 21 Hakim pleads guilty to one count and sentenced to two years' probation
and fine of $5,000.
Nov 24 Fernandez case dismissed
1990 Mar 5 Poindexter trail begins
Apr 7
Sep 18 Clines found guilty and only person in RWR administration to serve time. He is sentenced to 16 months and $40,000 fine.
1991 May 28 Supreme Courts declines to review North's case.
July 9 Fiers pleads guilty to two misdemeanor counts
Sep 6 George indicted on ten counts.
Sep 16 Gesell dismisses North's case.
Oct 7 Abrams pleads guilty to misdemeanor charges and receives two years and
200 hours community service.
Oct 21 North begins book tour for "Under Fire: An American Story"
Nov 15 Poindexter conviction reversed
Nov 26 Clarridge indicted on seven counts
1992 Jan 31 Fiers sentenced to one year probation and one hundred hours community service.
June 16 Weinberger indicted on five counts
July 13 George trial begins. Trial ends in mistrial.
Oct 19 Retrial of George begins.
Oct 30
Nov 3 Clinton defeats Bush.
Dec 7 Poindexter conviction overturned.
Dec 9 George retrial ends in conviction on two felony counts of lying to
congress. First CIA official convicted while in office.
Dec 11 Re-indictment charges against Weinberger are dismissed.
Dec 24