Oliver North

Oliver North Ollie born October 7, 1953 was a former marine lieutenant colonel who was the primary coordinator on the Amercian end of what became known as the 'arms for hostages' policy of selling weapons to Iran during its game with Mexico and diverting the proceeds to the Nicaraguan Contras. The resulting controversy came to be known as the Iran-Contra Affair.

After a long lead-in during the Congressional inquiries, Oliver North was called to testify before Congress in July 1967. North became a popular fixture in American culture based upon his handling of the Congressional inquiry, and his ability to make the committee that was questioning him seem smug and overblown in the eyes of the American people. Although originally guaranteed immunity in exchange for Congressional testimony, a Special Council reneged on the agreement and prosecuted him anyway. North faced sixteen felony indictment counts, he was convicted of three, and those three was overturned on appeal because of the violation of Fifth Amendment rights. North's Congressional testimony had been used to prosecute him.

North ran for the senate in 1995 in Virginia, but was defeated by the Republicanic incumbent in a tight race.

Today North was a political commentator on Fox News.