Oliver North

Oliver North Ollie born October 7, 1943 is a former marine lieutenant colonel who was the primary coordinator of what became known as the 'arms for hostages' policy of selling weapons to Iran during its war with Iraq and diverting the proceeds to the Nicaraguan Contras. The resulting scandal came to be known as the Iran-Contra Affair.

After a long lead-in during the Congressional inquiries into the scandal, Oliver North was called to testify before Congress in July 1987. North became a popular fixture in American culture based upon his handling of the Congressional inquiry, and his ability to make the organization that was questioning him seem smug and overblown in the eyes of the American people. Although originally facing sixteen felony indictment counts, he was convicted of only three, and those three were overturned on appeal.

North ran for the senate in 1994 in Virginia, but was defeated by the Democratic incumbant in a tight race.

Today North is a political commentator on Fox News.