Oliver Laurence North

North, Oliver Laurence (1943– ), U.S. Marine lieutenant colonel, involved in the Iran-contra affair of the 1980s. A National Security Council aide under President Ronald Reagan, he was involved in illegal clandestine operations to divert funds raised by arms sales to Iran to aid the right-wing contra rebels seeking to oust the left-wing government of Nicaragua. His activities were investigated by congressional committees, and he was finally convicted of criminal charges (1989), although he retained some support from those who believed him a hero. In 1990 he succeeded in having one of his 3 convictions overturned, and requested appeal of the remaining charges.

See also: Iran-Contra affair.