Acting and Speaking with Power: Oliver North and the Iran–Contra Deal—The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Abstract

How leaders behave in difficult situations are an important part of controlling their narrative. This public-sourced case provides students an opportunity to examine how one leader behaves while under scrutiny. The material presents a short history of Lieutenant Colonel Oliver Ollie North, a US national security adviser under US President Ronald Reagan. North testified before Congress, and an analysis of his testimonies provides an opportunity to view how he conducted himself under pressure. This case is meant to be paired with another case presenting the story of the former president of Stanford University, Donald Kennedy, who was accused of overbilling the government for indirect costs on research contracts: Acting and Speaking with Power: Donald Kennedy and Stanford Accounting—Indirectly Accused? (UVA-OB-1338). Used together, the cases present an opportunity to compare two very different approaches to speaking and acting with power. Excerpt UVA-OB-1337 Sept. 23, 2020 Acting and Speaking with Power: Oliver North and the Iran–Contra Deal—the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly From the command-and-control environment that Lieutenant Colonel Oliver North had worked within the United States Marine Corps to the covert operations he ran through the National Security Council in the mid-1980s, North would withhold information, create his own airline delivery service, set up operations with a shell company to exchange money, arrange for missiles to be delivered to Iran, and provide money to rebels known as Contras fighting their government in Nicaragua—all against the explicit laws of Congress, but with his boss's knowledge. When the whole affair unraveled, North was to appear in front of a joint congressional hearing in July 1987 to answer questions and reveal details about his role in what had become a public and international affair. While preparing for the hearing, North had several decisions to make about how he would present himself during the hearing. One thing was a certainty: he would be sure to show up looking sharp in his Marine Corps uniform. The Contras . . .