JANUARY 1979 -- Iranian revolution deposes the Washington-backed Shah. The Shah had come to power in 1953 after a CIA-designed coup to oust democratically-elected President Mohammad Mossadeq.
JULY 1979 -- Leftist Sandinista revolution ousts Washington-backed right-wing Somoza regime in Nicaragua.
JANUARY 20, 1981 -- President Ronald Reagan inaugurated.
DECEMBER 1, 1981 -- Reagan issues Presidential Finding on Nicaragua, authorizing Washington support for right-wing Contra rebels.
DECEMBER 1982 -- Boland Amendment begins to limit funding for Reagan’s Contra aid.
OCTOBER 1984 -- New Boland Amendment makes illegal any funding for Contras.
MARCH 16, 1985 -- Oliver North’s “Fallback memo” discusses ways to circumvent Congressional barring of funds for Contra war.
AUGUST 1985 -- Reagan Administration begins selling arms to the Islamic Republic of Iran, then engaged in a devastating war with Iraq.
AUGUST 20, 1985 -- American hostage Benjamin Weir released by Islamic Jihad/Hezbollah in Lebanon hours after the transfer of 96 TOW missiles to Iran
DECEMBER 20, 1985 -- Associated Press is first to report cocaine trafficking operations by Contras.
APRIL 4, 1986 -- Oliver North drafts the “Diversion Memo,” which orders a continuation of arms sales to Iran after the release of hostages with the new revenue being diverted to the Contras.
APRIL 1986 -- I go to Nicaragua and write these diaries.
Timeline via http://genius.com/President-ronald-reagan-iran-contra-timeline-annotated/
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