Editing Oliver North

{{Short description|American military figure (born 1943)}}
{{about|the American military figure|the British engineer|Oliver Danson North}}
{{Redirect|Colonel North|the 19th-century English magnate|John Thomas North}}
{{protection padlock|reason=Persistent [[WP:Disruptive editing|disruptive editing]] This has been an ongoing problem for years. Some of the vandalism is way over the top. Enough. |small=yes}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2023}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name                = Oliver North
| image               = Oliver North by Gage Skidmore.jpg
| caption             = North in 2017, wearing his [[Silver Star]] medal ribbon
| office              = President of the [[National Rifle Association]]
| term_start          = September 2018
| term_end            = April 29, 2019
| predecessor         = [[Pete Brownell]]
| successor           = [[Carolyn D. Meadows]]
| birth_name          = Oliver Laurence North
| birth_date          = {{birth date and age|1943|10|7}}
| birth_place         = [[San Antonio]], Texas, U.S.
| death_date          = 
| death_place         = 
| party               = [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| spouse              = {{marriage|Betsy Stuart|1967|2024|end=died}}
| children            = 4
| education           = [[The College at Brockport, State University of New York|State University of New York, Brockport]]<br/>[[United States Naval Academy]] ([[Bachelor of Science|BS]])
| allegiance          = {{flag|United States}}
| branch              = {{flag|United States Marine Corps}}
| serviceyears        = 1968–1990
| rank                = [[File:US Marine O5 shoulderboard.svg|25px]] [[Lieutenant colonel (United States)|Lieutenant colonel]]
| unit                = [[1st Battalion, 3rd Marines]] (Vietnam)<br/>[[3rd Battalion, 8th Marines]]<br/>[[2nd Marine Division (United States)|2nd Marine Division]]
| commands            = [[Camp Gonsalves|Northern Training Area]]
| battles             = [[Vietnam War]]
| mawards             = {{plainlist|
* [[Silver Star]] 
* [[Bronze Star Medal|Bronze Star]] with [["V" device|valor]] 
* [[Purple Heart]] (2) 
* [[Combat Action Ribbon]] 
* [[Presidential Service Badge]]}}
| succeeded           = 
}}
'''Oliver Laurence North''' (born October 7, 1943) is an American political commentator, television host, military historian, author, and retired [[United States Marine Corps]] [[Lieutenant colonel (United States)|lieutenant colonel]].

A veteran of the [[Vietnam War]], North was a [[United States National Security Council|National Security Council]] staff member during the [[Iran–Contra affair]], a political scandal of the late 1980s. It involved the illegal sale of weapons to the [[Ruhollah Khomeini|Khomeini]] regime of the Islamic Republic of [[Iran]] to encourage the release of [[Lebanon hostage crisis|American hostages then held in Lebanon]]. North formulated the second part of the plan, which was to divert proceeds from the arms sales to [[United States and state-sponsored terrorism#The Contras|support]] the [[Contras|Contra rebel groups]] in Nicaragua, official funding for which had been specifically prohibited under the [[Boland Amendment]]. North was granted [[witness immunity|limited immunity from prosecution]] in exchange for testifying before Congress about the scheme. He was initially convicted on three felony charges, but the convictions were vacated and reversed and all charges against him dismissed in 1991, on the grounds of immunity.

North unsuccessfully ran for the U.S. Senate seat held by [[Chuck Robb]] from Virginia in [[1994 United States Senate election in Virginia|1994]]. In a three-way race, North narrowly lost to Robb by a margin of 2.73%. He then hosted a talk show on [[Radio America (United States)|Radio America]] from 1995 to 2003, and hosted ''[[War Stories with Oliver North]]'' on [[Fox News]] from 2001 to 2016. In May 2018, North was elected as president of the [[National Rifle Association]]. On April 27, 2019, he resigned amidst a dispute with the organization's chief executive [[Wayne LaPierre]],<ref>politico.com: [https://www.politico.com/story/2019/04/27/nra-oliver-north-1291369 ''NRA announces North's resignation on-stage as 'crisis' hits gun lobby'']</ref> and was succeeded by [[Carolyn D. Meadows]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2019/apr/29/carolyn-meadows-replace-oliver-north-new-nra-presi/ |title=Carolyn Meadows to replace Oliver North as new NRA president |last=Sherfinski |first=David |work=[[The Washington Times]] |access-date=April 29, 2019}}</ref>

== Early life ==
North was born in [[San Antonio]], Texas, on October 7, 1943, the son of Ann Theresa (née Clancy) and Oliver Clay North, a U.S. Army major.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=t3nfAAAAMAAJ |title=Under fire: an American story – Oliver North, William Novak|access-date=October 16, 2012|isbn=978-0060183349|year=1991|last1=North|first1=Oliver|last2=Novak|first2=William|publisher=HarperCollins Publishers }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://articles.latimes.com/1999/oct/20/news/mn-24264/2|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120715032528/http://articles.latimes.com/1999/oct/20/news/mn-24264/2|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 15, 2012|work=Los Angeles Times|title=Obituaries|date=October 20, 1999}}</ref> He grew up in [[Philmont, New York]], and graduated from [[Taconic Hills Central School District|Ockawamick Central High School]] in 1961. He attended the [[State University of New York at Brockport]] for two years.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.olivernorth.com|title=Oliver North site|publisher=Oliver North|access-date=January 20, 2016}}</ref>

While at Brockport, North spent a summer at the [[United States Marine Corps]] [[Platoon Leaders Class]] at [[Marine Corps Base Quantico]] in [[Virginia]], and gained an appointment to the [[United States Naval Academy]] in 1963. He received his commission as [[US Second Lieutenant|second lieutenant]] in 1968, having missed a year due to serious back and leg injuries from an [[auto accident]] in which a classmate was killed.<ref name="chicagotribune.com">{{Cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1987-03-08-8701190095-story.html|title=The Puzzle of Oliver North |date=March 8, 1987|website=Chicago Tribune}}</ref> One of North's classmates at the academy was future [[United States Secretary of the Navy|secretary of the Navy]] and U.S. senator [[Jim Webb]], whom he beat in a middleweight championship [[Amateur boxing|boxing]] match at Annapolis.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.realclearsports.com/lists/top_10_most_athletic_democrats|title=Top 10 Most Athletic Democrats – #10 Jim Webb|website=RealClearSports.com|access-date=January 20, 2016|archive-date=July 22, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722115007/http://www.realclearsports.com/lists/top_10_most_athletic_democrats/|url-status=dead}}</ref> (North had shown films of this match to Marine Medical Corps officials to prove that he had fully recovered from his serious accident and could endure the rigors of midshipman training.<ref name="chicagotribune.com"/>) Their graduating class included [[Dennis C. Blair]], [[Michael Mullen]], [[Jay L. Johnson]], [[Charles Bolden]] and [[Michael Hagee]].

== U.S. Marine Corps career ==
===Vietnam===
North served as a [[platoon]] commander during the [[Vietnam War]], where during his [[combat]] service, he was awarded the [[Silver Star]], [[Bronze Star Medal]] with [[Combat V]], and two [[Purple Heart]] medals.<ref name="Cushman Jr">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/07/07/us/washington-talk-5-young-lawyers-who-would-be-heros-marine-who-wears-hero-s.html|title=Washington Talk; 5 Young Lawyers Who Would Be Heroes ... And A Marine Who Wears a Hero's Ribbons|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=July 7, 1987|access-date=June 23, 2011|first=John H. Jr.|last=Cushman}}</ref> At the time of his being awarded the Silver Star, North was a platoon commander leading his Marines in [[Operation Virginia Ridge]]. North led a counter-assault against the [[People's Army of Vietnam]], as his platoon took on heavy machine gun fire and rocket propelled grenades. Throughout the battle, North displayed "courage, dynamic leadership and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of grave personal danger".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://veterantributes.org/TributeDetail.php?recordID=245|title=Veteran Tributes|website=Veterantributes.org|access-date=January 20, 2016}}</ref>

===Post-Vietnam===
In 1970, North returned to [[South Vietnam]] to testify as a character witness at the trial of Lance Corporal Randall Herrod, a U.S. Marine formerly under his command who, along with four others, had been charged with the murder of sixteen Vietnamese civilians in the village of [[Son Thang massacre|Son Thang]].<ref>"Did Military Justice Fail or Prevail?" [[Duke University Law]] Center on Law, Ethics, and National Security reprinted from ''[[Michigan Law Review]]'', 1998</ref> North claims Herrod had previously saved his life.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.people.com/archive/the-man-who-did-too-much-vol-28-no-2/amp/?client=safari|title=The Man Who Did Too Much – Vol. 28 No. 2|date=July 13, 1987}}</ref> Herrod and one other Marine were acquitted.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://litigation-essentials.lexisnexis.com/webcd/app?action=DocumentDisplay&crawlid=1&doctype=cite&docid=166+Mil.+L.+Rev.+234&srctype=smi&srcid=3B15&key=56c7b04d4ca7b929ff4579e032a9d519|title=Book Review: Son Thang: An American War Crime 1|website=litigation-essentials.lexisnexis.com|access-date=January 20, 2017|archive-date=February 1, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170201234753/https://litigation-essentials.lexisnexis.com/webcd/app?action=DocumentDisplay&crawlid=1&doctype=cite&docid=166+Mil.+L.+Rev.+234&srctype=smi&srcid=3B15&key=56c7b04d4ca7b929ff4579e032a9d519|url-status=dead}}</ref>

North's post-Vietnam career included: instructor at the [[The Basic School|Marine Basic School]] from 1969 to 1974; director of the [[Camp Gonsalves|Northern Training Area]] in [[Okinawa Prefecture|Okinawa, Japan]] (1973–1974); plans and policy analyst with the manpower division at [[Headquarters Marine Corps]] from 1975 to 1978; and operations officer (S3) for [[3rd Battalion, 8th Marines|3rd Battalion, 8th Regiment]], [[2nd Marine Division]] at [[Camp Lejeune]] (1978–80).<ref>{{cite book |last1=Gareffa |first1=Peter M. |last2=Evory |first2=Ann |date=1988 |title=Newsmakers |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rWJmAAAAMAAJ |location=Farmington Hills, MI |publisher=[[Gale (publisher)|Gale Publishing]] |pages=266–267|isbn=978-0810322035 }}</ref>  He graduated from the [[Naval War College#College of Naval Command and Staff|College of Naval Command and Staff]] at the [[Navy War College]] in 1981.<ref>{{cite news |last=Gerstenzang |first=James |date=November 26, 1986 |title=The Crisis in the White House: The Key Players; Lt. Col. Oliver L. North, A Passion for the Fight Against Communism |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-11-26-mn-15628-story.html |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |location=Los Angeles, CA}}</ref>

===National Security Council staff===
In 1981, North began his assignment to the [[United States National Security Council|National Security Council]] staff in Washington, D.C., where he served as a lobbyist from 1981 to 1983; and deputy director for political–military affairs<ref name="Time Magazine: Washington's Cowboys">{{cite news|last1=Greenwald|first1=John|last2=Beckwith|first2=David|last3=Halevy|first3=David|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,962859,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080408194549/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,962859,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 8, 2008|title=Washington's Cowboys|magazine=Time|date=November 17, 1986|access-date=June 23, 2011}}</ref> from 1983 until his reassignment in 1986. In 1983, North was promoted to [[Lieutenant colonel (United States)|lieutenant colonel]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bpcbakbusconf.com/2002-north.htm|title=Oliver North profile|work=Speaker Line-Up 2002|publisher=The Bakersfield Business Conference|access-date=December 23, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070806185617/http://www.bpcbakbusconf.com/2002-north.htm|archive-date=August 6, 2007}}</ref>

During his tenure at the National Security Council, North managed a number of missions. This included leading the hunt for those responsible for the [[1983 Beirut barracks bombing]] that killed 299 American and French military personnel, an effort that saw North arrange a mid-air interception of an [[EgyptAir]] jet carrying those responsible for the [[MS Achille Lauro|Achille Lauro]] hijacking. While at the National Security Council, he also helped plan the U.S. [[invasion of Grenada]] and the 1986 [[Operation El Dorado Canyon|bombing of Libya]].<ref name="Time Magazine: Washington's Cowboys"/>

During his Iran-Contra trial, North spent his last two years on active duty assigned to [[Headquarters Marine Corps]] in [[Arlington County, Virginia]]. He submitted his request to retire from the Marine Corps effective May 1, 1988, following his indictment for [[Conspiracy against the United States|conspiring to defraud the United States]] by channeling the profits from US arms sales to the Contra rebels in Nicaragua.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/03/19/world/north-quits-marines-suggesting-subpoenas-for-highest-officials.html |title=North Quits Marines|work=The New York Times|date=March 19, 1988|access-date=December 21, 2012}}</ref> After his trial and felony convictions, all convictions were reversed on appeal.<ref>{{cite news | last1 =Johnson | first1 =Haynes| last2 =Thompson | first2 =Tracy | title =North Charges Dismissed at Request of Prosecutor | newspaper =[[Washington Post]] | date =September 17, 1991 | url =https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1991/09/17/north-charges-dismissed-at-request-of-prosecutor/d6b5b3dc-d164-40f2-a579-c23521f66686/ | access-date =January 10, 2020 }}</ref>

== Military awards ==
North received the following military awards and decorations:<ref name="Cushman Jr"/><ref>[http://valor.militarytimes.com/recipient.php?recipientid=23749 Profile], valor.militarytimes.com; accessed January 31, 2016.</ref><ref>[http://www.biography.com/people/oliver-north-9425102 Profile], biography.com; accessed January 31, 2016.</ref><ref>[http://www.legion.org/pressrelease/224404/american-legion-honors-oliver-north-national-pr-award Oliver North honored by American Legion], legion.org; accessed January 31, 2016.</ref>
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|-
|colspan="6"|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Silver Star ribbon.svg |width=106|}}&nbsp;{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|other_device=nv|ribbon=Bronze Star ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|-
|colspan="2"|{{Ribbon devices|ribbon=Purple Heart BAR.svg|width=106}}<span style="position:relative; top: -0px; left: -64px; display: inline-block; width: 0;">[[File:Award star (gold).png|24px]]</span>
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|colspan="2"|{{Ribbon devices|ribbon=Navy and Marine Corps Achievement ribbon.svg|width=106}}<span style="position:relative; top: -0px; left: -64px; display: inline-block; width: 0;">[[File:Award star (gold).png|24px]]</span>
|colspan="2"|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Combat Action Ribbon.svg|width=106}}
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|colspan="2"|{{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|ribbon=Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.svg|width=106}}
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|colspan="3"|[[File:USMC Rifle Expert badge.png|125px]]
|colspan="3"|[[File:USMC Pistol Expert badge.png|130px]]
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|colspan="6"|[[File:US - Presidential Service Badge.png|center|170px]]
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{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
|
|Basic [[Parachutist Badge]]
|
|-
|[[Silver Star Medal]]
|[[Bronze Star Medal]] with [["V" device|Combat V device]]
|
|-
|[[Purple Heart Medal]] with one [[5/16 inch star|{{frac|5|16}}" Gold Star]]
|[[Defense Meritorious Service Medal]]
|[[Meritorious Service Medal (United States)|Meritorious Service Medal]]
|-
|[[Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal]] with Combat "V' device and two {{frac|5|16}}" Gold Stars
|[[Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal]] with one {{frac|5|16}}" Gold Star
|[[Combat Action Ribbon]]
|-
|[[Navy Unit Commendation]]
|[[Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation]] with one [[Service star|{{frac|3|16}}" bronze star]]
|[[National Defense Service Medal]]
|-
|[[Vietnam Service Medal]] with one {{frac|3|16}}" silver star
|[[Sea Service Deployment Ribbon]] with one {{frac|3|16}}" bronze star
|[[Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon]]
|-
|[[Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross]] with silver star
|[[Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation]] with palm and frame
|[[Vietnam Campaign Medal|Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal]] with 1960–device
|-
|[[Marksmanship Badge (United States)|Marine Corps Expert Rifle Badge]]
|
|[[Marksmanship Badge (United States)|Marine Corps Expert Pistol Badge]]
|-
|
|[[Presidential Service Badge]]
|
|}

== Iran–Contra affair ==
{{Main|Iran–Contra affair}}
{{See also|Nicaragua v. United States}}
North came into the public spotlight as a result of his participation in the [[Iran–Contra affair]], a political scandal during the Reagan administration, in which he claimed partial responsibility for the sale of weapons through intermediaries to [[Iran]], with the profits being channeled to the [[Contras]] in Nicaragua. It was alleged that he was responsible for the establishment of a covert network which subsequently funneled those funds to the Contras. Congress passed the [[Boland Amendment]] (to the House Appropriations Bill of 1982 and following years),<ref name="Webb 1999">{{cite book|last=Webb|first=Gary|year=1999|pages=206|title=Dark Alliance|publisher=[[Seven Stories Press]]|isbn=978-1888363937|title-link=Dark Alliance (book)}}</ref> which prohibited the appropriation of U.S. funds by intelligence agencies for the support of the Contras.

North solicited $10 million from the [[Sultan of Brunei]] to skirt U.S. prohibitions on funding the Contras. However, he gave the wrong number of the Swiss bank account intended to launder the money, and it went instead to a Swiss businessman. A Senate committee investigating the transaction tracked it down so it could be returned to Brunei.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/05/13/world/north-s-10-million-mistake-sultan-s-gift-lost-in-a-mixup.html |title=North's $10 million Mistake: Sultan's gift lost in a mixup |work=[[The New York Times]] |first=Fox |last=Butterfield |date=May 13, 1987 |access-date=May 8, 2018}}</ref>

In an August 23, 1986, e-mail to [[National Security Advisor (United States)|National Security Advisor]] [[John Poindexter]], North described a meeting with a representative of Panamanian General [[Manuel Noriega]]: "You will recall that over the years Manuel Noriega in Panama and I have developed a fairly good relationship," North writes before explaining Noriega's proposal. If U.S. officials can "help clean up his image" and lift the ban on arms sales to the Panamanian Defense Force, Noriega will "'take care of' the [[Sandinista]] leadership for us."<ref>{{cite book|last1=Cockburn|first1=Alexander|last2=St. Clair|first2=Jeffrey|title=Whiteout: the CIA, drugs, and the press|publisher=Verso|year=1998|page=287|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=s5qIj_h_PtkC&pg=PA287 |access-date=November 30, 2010|isbn=1859841392}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=North American Congress on Latin America|title=NACLA report on the Americas|volume=27|publisher=NACLA|year=1993|location=California|page=31|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RowpAQAAIAAJ |access-date=November 30, 2010|author1-link=North American Congress on Latin America}}</ref>

North told Poindexter that General Noriega could assist with sabotage against the ruling party of Nicaragua, the [[Sandinista National Liberation Front]]. North supposedly suggested that Noriega be paid $1 million in cash from [[National Endowment for Democracy|Project Democracy]] funds raised from the sale of U.S. arms to Iran for the Panamanian leader's help in destroying Nicaraguan economic installations.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB113/index.htm|title=The Oliver North File|publisher=[[National Security Archive]]|access-date=June 23, 2011}}</ref>

In November 1986, as the sale of weapons was made public, North was dismissed by President [[Ronald Reagan]]. In an interview with ''[[Cigar Aficionado]]'' magazine, North said that on February 11, 1987, the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]] detected an attack on North's family<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cigaraficionado.com/webfeatures/show/id/An-Exclusive-Interview-with-Oliver-North_8794/print/Y|title=An Exclusive Interview with Oliver North|access-date=June 6, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714135814/http://www.cigaraficionado.com/webfeatures/show/id/An-Exclusive-Interview-with-Oliver-North_8794/print/Y|archive-date=July 14, 2014}}</ref> from the Peoples Committee for Libyan Students, with an order to kill North. Although government officials later expressed skepticism of this claim,<ref name="WaPo1988Jul22">{{cite news |last1=Murphy |first1=Caryle |last2=Evans |first2=Sandra |title=D.C. Travel Agent Denies He Had Role in Alleged Plot to Kill Col. North|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1988/07/22/dc-travel-agent-denies-he-had-role-in-alleged-plot-to-kill-col-north/ddd62521-44e0-486a-9917-442b76617a85/ |access-date=October 30, 2019 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=July 22, 1988}}</ref> and no charges for this alleged plot were brought,<ref name="Time1988Aug01">{{cite magazine |title=The Libyan Travel Bureau: Oliver North was its target – but then maybe not |volume=132 |url=http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,968036,00.html |access-date=October 30, 2019 |issue=5 |magazine=Time Magazine |date=August 1, 1988}}</ref> his family was moved to [[Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune|Camp Lejeune]] in [[North Carolina]] and lived with federal agents until North retired from the Marine Corps the following year.<ref>{{cite interview|last=North|first=Oliver |subject-link=Oliver North|interviewer=[[Hugh Hewitt]]|title=[[Hugh Hewitt Show]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/07/21/us/eight-men-are-charged-with-pro-libya-actions.html|title=Eight Men Are Charged With Pro-Libya Actions|access-date=June 6, 2014|newspaper=The New York Times|date=July 21, 1988|last1=Shenon|first1=Philip}}</ref>

In July 1987, North was summoned to testify before televised hearings of a joint congressional committee that was formed to investigate the Iran–Contra scandal. During the hearings, North admitted that he had misled Congress,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/retropolis/wp/2018/05/08/the-nras-new-president-oliver-north-is-notorious-for-his-role-in-an-illicit-arms-deal/|title='Olliemania': The stage-worthy scandal that starred Oliver North as a congressional witness|last=Rosenberg|first=Eli|date=May 8, 2018|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=February 28, 2019}}</ref> for which, along with other actions, he was later charged. He defended his actions by stating that he believed in the goal of aiding the Contras, whom he saw as [[freedom fighter]]s against the Sandinistas and said that he viewed the Iran–Contra scheme as a "neat idea."<ref name="perfect">{{IMDb title |117320|A Perfect Candidate}}. Retrieved June 23, 2011</ref> North admitted shredding government documents related to these activities at [[William Casey]]'s suggestion when the Iran–Contra scandal became public. He also testified that [[Robert McFarlane (American politician)|Robert McFarlane]] had asked him to alter official records to delete references to direct assistance to the Contras and that he had helped.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/national/longterm/irancontra/contra3.htm|title=Hostile Witnesses|page=3|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=June 23, 2011|date=August 19, 1998}}</ref>

[[File:Oliver North mug shot.jpg|thumb|upright|left|North's mugshot,<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Iran-Contra Affair • Levin Center |url=https://levin-center.org/what-is-oversight/portraits/the-iran-contra-affair/ |access-date=2023-05-04 |website=Levin Center |language=en-US}}</ref> taken on the day of his arrest]]North was indicted in March 1988 on 16 felony counts.<ref name="northindictment">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/03/17/world/north-poindexter-and-2-others-indicted-on-iran-contra-fraud-and-theft-charges.html |title=North, Poindexter and 2 Others Indicted on Iran–Contra Fraud and Theft Charges |last=Shenon |first=Philip |work=The New York Times |access-date=December 29, 2018 |date=March 17, 1988 |page=A00001 |edition=National}}</ref> His trial opened in February 1989,<ref name="northtrialopen1">{{cite news |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1989/02/21/Oliver-Norths-time-for-judgment-arrived-Tuesday-with-the/1405604040400/ |title=Oliver North's 'time for judgment' arrived Tuesday with the... |last=Saker |first=Anne |work=UPI |access-date=September 28, 2019 |date=February 21, 1989}}</ref><ref name="northtrialopen2">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/02/22/us/north-trial-opens-after-long-delay.html |title=North Trial Opens After Long Delay |last=Johnston |first=David |work=The New York Times |access-date=September 28, 2019 |date=February 22, 1989}}</ref> and on May 4, 1989, he was initially convicted of three: accepting an illegal gratuity, aiding and abetting in the obstruction of a congressional inquiry, and ordering the destruction of documents through his secretary, [[Fawn Hall]]. He was sentenced by U.S. District Judge [[Gerhard Gesell]] on July 5, 1989, to a three-year suspended prison term, two years probation, $150,000 in fines, and 1,200 hours of community service.<ref>{{Cite news |date=July 5, 1989 |title=1989: Irangate colonel avoids prison |language=en-GB |work=BBC On This Day |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/july/5/newsid_2772000/2772471.stm |access-date=July 3, 2020}}</ref> North performed some of his community service within [[Potomac Gardens]], a public housing project in southeast Washington, DC.<ref>{{cite web|last=Crawford|first=Craig|title=One Avenue, Two Faces: White House, Crack House|url=http://craigcrawford.com/2011/10/30/one-avenues-2-faces-white-house-crack-house/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131213120401/http://craigcrawford.com/2011/10/30/one-avenues-2-faces-white-house-crack-house/|archive-date=December 13, 2013}}</ref> However, with the help of the [[American Civil Liberties Union]],<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/07/21/us/civil-liberties-union-asks-court-to-quash-iran-contra-indictment.html|title=Civil Liberties Union Asks Court To Quash Iran-Contra Indictment|work=The New York Times|date=July 21, 1988|access-date=May 7, 2018|first=Philip|last=Shenon}}</ref> North appealed his conviction to the [[United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit|U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit]]. On July 20, 1990, the D.C. Circuit vacated North's convictions on the ground that witnesses in his trial might have been impermissibly affected by his immunized congressional testimony.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://fas.org/irp/offdocs/walsh/chap_02.htm|title=Walsh Iran/Contra Report – Chapter 2 United States v. Oliver L. North|website=Fas.org|access-date=June 23, 2011}}</ref>

The individual members of the prosecution team had isolated themselves from news reports and discussion of North's testimony, and while the defense could show no specific instance in which North's congressional testimony was used in his trial, the Court of Appeals ruled that the trial judge had made an insufficient examination of the issue. Consequently, North's convictions were reversed. After further hearings on the immunity issue, Judge Gesell dismissed all charges against North on September 16, 1991.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://fas.org/irp/offdocs/walsh/chap_02.htm|title=Walsh Iran/Contra Report – Chapter 2 United States v. Oliver L. North|website=Fas.org|access-date=October 21, 2016}}.<br />Quote: "In two days of remand hearings, [Robert C.] McFarlane testified that his trial testimony was 'colored' by, and that he was deeply affected by, North's immunized congressional testimony. Independent Counsel then consented to dismiss the remaining counts of the indictment.... Order, North (D.D.C. Sept. 16, 1991) (dismissing Counts Six, Nine, and Ten of Indictment, with prejudice)."</ref>

== Politics ==
{{Conservatism US|commentators}}
In the [[1994 United States Senate election in Virginia|1994 election]], North unsuccessfully ran for the [[United States Senate]] as the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]] candidate in [[Virginia]]. Republican senator [[John Warner]] of Virginia endorsed [[Marshall Coleman]], a Republican who ran as an independent, instead of North. North lost, garnering 43 percent of votes, while incumbent [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] [[Charles Robb]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/1994/94Stat.htm#46 |title=Statistics Of The Congressional Election Of November 8, 1994|website=Clerk.house.gov |access-date=June 23, 2011}}</ref> a son-in-law of President [[Lyndon B. Johnson]], won reelection with 46 percent. Coleman received 11 percent. North's candidacy was documented in the 1996 film ''[[A Perfect Candidate]]''.<ref name="perfect"/>

[[File:Oliver North 2.jpg|thumb|left|Oliver North in 2005, pictured with [[Clinton Township, Franklin County, Ohio|Clinton Township]], Franklin County, Ohio Assistant Fire Chief John Harris and Lieutenant Douglas Brown, at a public speaking event]]
In his failed bid to unseat Robb, North raised $20.3 million in a single year through nationwide direct-mail solicitations, telemarketing, fundraising events, and contributions from major donors. About $16 million of that amount was from direct mail alone. This was the biggest accumulation of direct-mail funds for a statewide campaign to that date, and it made North the top direct-mail political fundraiser in the country in 1994.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ollie, Inc.: how Oliver North raised over $20&nbsp;million in a losing U.S. Senate race|url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-17195256.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180508054754/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-17195256.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 8, 2018|access-date=September 24, 2007}}</ref>

=== Freedom Alliance ===
In 1990, North founded the Freedom Alliance, a [[501(c)(3)]] foundation "to advance the American heritage of freedom by honoring and encouraging military service, defending the sovereignty of the United States, and promoting a strong national defense." The foundation's primary activities include providing support for wounded combat soldiers and providing scholarships for the children of service members killed in action.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://freedomalliance.org/about|title=About Freedom Alliance|publisher=Freedom Alliance|access-date=June 16, 2016|archive-date=August 7, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160807101422/https://freedomalliance.org/about|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Beginning in 2003, [[Sean Hannity]] has raised over $10 million for the Freedom Alliance Scholarship Fund through Freedom Concerts and donations from ''[[The Sean Hannity Show]]'' and its listeners. The charity has been criticized by conservative blogger [[Debbie Schlussel]] for distributing too little of its funds for charitable purposes.<ref>{{cite news|title=A concert with an attitude: Sean Hannity's benefit show isn't without controversy|first=James D. Jr.|last=Watts|work=McClatchy – Tribune Business News|location=Washington|date=August 19, 2010}}</ref> Hannity, North, and other charity spokespersons say that all of the "net" proceeds from the Freedom Concerts are donated to the fund.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://freedomconcerts.com/ |title=Cloud Solution Providers, Cloud Based Service Marketplace, Cloud Service Broker - AppDirect |access-date=November 18, 2009 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160110044848/https://freedomconcerts.com/ |archive-date=January 10, 2016  }}</ref>

=== National Rifle Association ===
On May 7, 2018, the [[National Rifle Association]] (NRA) announced that North would become the organization's next president within the following weeks.<ref name=USATODAY-NRA>{{cite news|last1=Shesgreen|first1=Deirdre|title=Oliver North poised to become next National Rifle Association president|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2018/05/07/oliver-north-poised-next-national-rifle-association-president/587072002/|work=USA Today|date=May 7, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Lt. Colonel Oliver North Poised to Become NRA President|url=https://home.nra.org/lt-colonel-oliver-north-poised-to-become-nra-president/|website=NRA.org|publisher=National Rifle Association of America|access-date=May 11, 2018|archive-date=May 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180512112156/https://home.nra.org/lt-colonel-oliver-north-poised-to-become-nra-president/|url-status=dead}}</ref> He succeeded Pete Brownell, the incumbent. North is a board member in the NRA and appeared at NRA national conventions in 2007<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.showmenews.com/2007/Apr/20070413News013.asp|title=Bolton, Oliver North among speakers at NRA conferences|website=Showmenews.com|access-date=June 23, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20070814000103/http://www.showmenews.com/2007/Apr/20070413News013.asp|archive-date=August 14, 2007}}</ref> and 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nraila.org/articles/20080417/nra-s-annual-meetings-exhibits-2008|title=NRA's Annual Meetings & Exhibits 2008: A Celebration of American Values|date=April 17, 2008|website=NRA Institute for Legislative Action}}</ref> North began his term as president in September 2018.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.npr.org/2019/04/27/717808885/oliver-north-says-he-will-not-seek-a-2nd-term-as-nra-president |title=Oliver North Says He Will Not Seek A 2nd Term As NRA President |last=Mak |first=Tim |date=April 27, 2019 |work=NPR |access-date=April 27, 2019 }}</ref>

In April 2019, in the midst of a wide-ranging dispute involving the NRA's chief executive [[Wayne LaPierre]], the NRA's advertising agency [[Ackerman McQueen]], and the NRA's law firm Brewer Attorneys & Counselors,<ref name=nyt20190426>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/26/business/nra-wayne-lapierre-oliver-north.html |title=Insurgents Seek to Oust Wayne LaPierre in N.R.A. Power Struggle |last=Hakim |first=Danny |date=April 26, 2019 |work=The New York Times |access-date=April 27, 2019 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> North announced that he would not serve a second term as president,<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/27/us/oliver-north-nra.html |title=Oliver North Says He Will Not Serve Another Term as N.R.A. President |last1=Hakim |first1=Danny |date=April 27, 2019 |work=The New York Times |access-date=April 27, 2019 |last2=Mele |first2=Christopher |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref name=cnbc20190427>{{cite news |title=Oliver North will not serve second term as NRA president amid bitter infighting at gun rights group |date=April 27, 2019 |access-date=May 31, 2019 |agency=[[Associated Press]] |publisher=[[CNBC]] |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/04/27/oliver-north-will-not-serve-second-term-as-nra-president-amid-bitter-infighting-at-gun-rights-group.html}}</ref> ostensibly against his wishes.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/oliver-north-out-as-nra-president-11556376506 |title=Oliver North Won't Return as NRA President |last=Maremont |first=Mark |date=April 27, 2019 |work=Wall Street Journal |access-date=April 27, 2019 |issn=0099-9660}}</ref> On April 24, 2019, North asked LaPierre to resign.<ref name=nyt20190426/><ref name=nyt20190427>{{cite news |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |title=N.R.A. President to Step Down as New York Attorney General Investigates |first=Danny |last=Hakim |date=April 27, 2019 |access-date=May 30, 2019 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/27/us/oliver-north-nra.html}}</ref> On April 16, 2019, North and NRA first vice president [[Richard Childress]] wrote to the chairman of the NRA audit committee and the NRA's secretary and general counsel calling for an independent audit of the billing from the NRA's law firm, Brewer Attorneys & Counselors.<ref name=wsj20190511>{{cite news |title=Leaked Letters Reveal Details of NRA Chief's Alleged Spending |last=Maremont |first=Mark |newspaper=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |date=May 11, 2019 |access-date=June 12, 2019 |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/leaked-letters-reveal-details-of-nra-chiefs-alleged-spending-11557597601}}</ref><ref name=db20190511>{{cite news |title=Leaked Documents: NRA Racked Up $24 Million in Legal Bills |first=Betsy |last=Woodruff |date=May 11, 2019 |access-date=June 12, 2019 |agency=[[The Daily Beast]] |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/leaked-documents-nra-racked-up-dollar24-million-in-legal-bills-3}}</ref> In an April 24, 2019 letter to the executive committee of the NRA board, North said that he was forming a committee to investigate alleged financial improprieties, allegations which he said threatened the NRA's [[Nonprofit organization|non-profit status]].<ref name=wsj20190511/> In an April 25, 2019 letter to the NRA board, LaPierre said that North was threatening to release damaging information about him.<ref name=cnbc20190427/> On April 27, 2019, in a letter read on his behalf at the NRA's annual convention in [[Indianapolis]], Indiana, North announced he would not serve a second term.<ref name=nyt20190427/> North's term ended on April 29, 2019, when he was replaced by [[Carolyn D. Meadows]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/29/us/nra-wayne-lapierre-oliver-north.html |title=Wayne LaPierre Prevails in Fierce Battle for the N.R.A. |last=Hakim |first=Danny |date=April 29, 2019 |work=The New York Times |access-date=April 30, 2019 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> On May 3, 2019, Senators [[Ron Wyden]] of Oregon, [[Sheldon Whitehouse]] of Rhode Island, and [[Bob Menendez]] of New Jersey, members of the [[United States Senate Committee on Finance|Senate Finance Committee]], wrote to North, LaPierre, and the NRA's advertising agency [[Ackerman McQueen]] requesting copies of the letters to the NRA board by North and LaPierre, seeking documents related to the allegations, and directing records preservation.<ref>{{cite news |title=Senate Democrats ask NRA execs, PR firm for documents related to alleged self-dealing |first=Katie |last=Zezima |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=May 2, 2019 |access-date=May 31, 2019 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/senate-democrats-ask-nra-execs-pr-firm-for-documents-related-to-alleged-self-dealing/2019/05/02/870db132-6d0c-11e9-8f44-e8d8bb1df986_story.html}}</ref><ref name=newsweek20190503>{{cite news |title=Senate Democrats Probe NRA After Ex-President Oliver North Alleged Financial Wrongdoing |first=Ramsey |last=Touchberry |date=May 3, 2019 |access-date=May 31, 2019 |magazine=[[Newsweek]] |url=https://www.newsweek.com/senate-democrats-nra-nonproft-probe-investigation-oliver-north-1414504}}</ref>

==Media and books==
[[File:OliverNorthBookSigning.jpg|thumb|North in April 2002, autographing one of his books for a U.S. Marine Staff Sergeant]]

===Film, television, radio, and videogames===
[[File:Oliver North at Holloman Air Force Base (4462410923).jpg|thumb|North filming a scene of ''War Stories with Oliver North'' at [[Holloman Air Force Base]], New Mexico, 2010]]
North became increasingly known for his media career and appearances.  In 1991, he appeared on the first season of ''[[The Jerry Springer Show]]''. From 1995 to 2003, North was host of his own [[radio syndication|nationally syndicated]] [[talk radio]] show on [[Radio America (United States)|Radio America]], which was known as the ''Oliver North Radio Show'' or ''Common Sense Radio With Oliver North''.<ref>{{cite news |first=Achy |last=Obejas |url= https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1997-11-26-9711260039-story.html |title= His Radio Show Doesn't Air Here Yet, But America's Favorite Loose Cannon Is Getting Plenty of … Northern Exposure |work=[[Chicago Tribune]] |date=November 26, 1997 |access-date=November 27, 2021}}</ref> He also served as co-host of ''[[Equal Time (TV program)|Equal Time]]'' on [[MSNBC]] from 1999 to 2000.<ref>{{cite news |first=Lisa |last=de Moraes |url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1999/01/28/msnbcs-new-right-angle-north-and-mclaughlin/69df34e5-8402-4c93-a6ce-06a9e506d01b/ |title= MSNBC's New Right Angle: North and McLaughlin |newspaper=[[Washington Post]] |date=January 28, 1999 |access-date=November 29, 2021}}</ref> North was the host of the television show ''[[War Stories with Oliver North]]'' from 2001 to 2016 and is a regular commentator on ''[[Hannity]]'', both on the [[Fox News Channel]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.foxnews.com/on-air/war-stories/index.html|title=War Stories {{!}} Oliver North|publisher=Fox News|access-date=October 16, 2012}}</ref>

North appeared as himself on many television shows, including the sitcom ''[[Wings (NBC TV series)|Wings]]'' in 1991, and three episodes of the TV military drama ''[[JAG (TV series)|JAG]]'' in 1995, 1996, and 2002 as "Ollie", a close friend of the deceased father of [[Tracey Needham]]'s character [[Meg Austin (JAG)|Meg Austin]].<ref>{{IMDb name|0636048}}</ref>  He has also appeared as himself in several film documentaries.

In addition, he regularly speaks at both public and private events. North appears in an episode of ''[[Auction Kings]]'' to have his Marine Corps sword returned after it was lost and presumably stolen in 1980. North was credited as a military consultant in the 2012 video game ''[[Call of Duty: Black Ops II]]'' and voiced himself in a [[cutscene]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://kotaku.com/call-of-duty-creators-say-oliver-north-helped-make-thei-5913092 |title=Call of Duty Creators Say Oliver North Helped Make Their Game More Authentic |first=Stephen |last=Totilo |date=May 24, 2012 |access-date=June 8, 2019 |work=[[Kotaku]] |publisher=[[Gizmodo Media Group]]}}</ref> In Season 4, Episode 15 [[American Dad! (season 4)|"Stanny Slickers II: The Legend of Ollie's Gold"]] of the TV series ''[[American Dad!]]''  Stan Smith searches under his house for Oliver North's hidden gold. In 2014, he received story credit for an [[Martial Eagle (The Americans)|episode]] of the TV series ''[[The Americans]]'' where the Soviet spy protagonists infiltrate a Contra training base in the United States.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/16/arts/television/oliver-north-now-in-the-service-of-tvs-kgb.html|title=Oliver North, Now in the Service of TV's K.G.B.|first=Dave|last=Itzkoff|date=April 15, 2014|work=The New York Times}}</ref>
===Nonfiction books===
*''[[Under Fire (North book)|Under Fire: An American Story]]'', co-author William Novak, Zondervan, 1991, {{ISBN|978-0060183349}}
*''One More Mission: Oliver North Returns to Vietnam'', co-author David Roth, Zondervan, January 1, 1993, {{ISBN|978-0310404903}}
*''War Stories: Operation Iraqi Freedom'', Regnery History, 2003, {{ISBN|978-0895260635}}
*''True Freedom: The Liberating Power of Prayer'', Multnomah Press, 2003, {{ISBN|978-1590523636}}
*''A Greater Freedom: Stories of Faith from Operation Iraqi Freedom'', B&H Books, 2004, {{ISBN|978-0805431537}}
*''War Stories II: Heroism in the Pacific'', Regnery History, 2004, {{ISBN|978-0895261090}}
*''War Stories III: The Heroes Who Defeated Hitler'', Regnery History, 2005, {{ISBN|978-0895260147}}
*''American Heroes: In the Fight Against Radical Islam'', Broadman & Holman Publishing, 2008, {{ISBN|978-0805447118}}
*''American Heroes: In Special Operations'', Fidelis Books, 2010, {{ISBN|978-0805447125}}
*''American Heroes: On the Homefront'', Threshold Editions, 2013, {{ISBN|978-1476714325}}
*''Veterans' Lament: Is This the America Our Heroes Fought For?'', co-author David Goetsch, Fidelis Books, 2020, {{ISBN|978-1642935011}}
*''American Gulags: Marxist Tyranny in Higher Education and What to do About It.'', co-authors David Goetsch and Archie Jones, Fidelis Books, 2023, {{ISBN|978-1956454062}}

===Fiction books===
*''Mission Compromised'', co -author Joe Musser, Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2002, {{ISBN|978-0805425505}}
*''The Jericho Sanction'', co-author Joe Musser, Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2003, {{ISBN|978-0805425512}}
*''The Assassins'', co-author Joe Musser, Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2005, {{ISBN|978-0805425529}} 
*''Heroes Proved'', Threshold Editions, 2012, {{ISBN|978-1476706313}}
*''Counterfeit Lies'', co-author Bob Hamer, Threshold Editions, 2014, {{ISBN|978-1476714356}}
*''The Rifleman'', Fidelis Books, 2019, {{ISBN|978-1642933147}}
*''The Giant Awakes'', co-author Bob Hamer, Fidelis Books, 2022, {{ISBN|978-1956454048}}

== Personal life ==
In 1967, North married Betsy Stuart; they have four children.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h3696.html|title=Oliver North profile|website=U-s-history.com|access-date=October 16, 2012}}</ref> Although raised in the Roman Catholic faith of his mother, North has long attended Protestant or evangelical services with his wife and children.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.lrb.co.uk/v10/n19/robert-fisk/robert-fisk-writes-about-oliver-norths-contributions-to-the-ordeal-of-the-middle-east|title=London Review of Books: Robert Fisk writes about Oliver North's contributions to the ordeal of the Middle East|pages=5–6|newspaper=London Review of Books|access-date=June 23, 2011|date=October 27, 1988}}</ref> The Norths live in [[McLean, Virginia]].<ref>[https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/news-photo/marine-lt-col-oliver-north-leaves-his-home-early-12-18-in-news-photo/517788768 Lieutenant Colonel Oliver North Speaking to Reporters from Limousine Pictures | Getty Images] Retrieved May 8, 2018.</ref>

Betsy North died on November 16, 2024 of [[corticobasal syndrome]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.hallfh.com/obituaries/Elizabeth-Stuart-North?obId=34061324#/obituaryInfo | title=Obituary information for Elizabeth Stuart North }}</ref>

== In popular culture ==
A double-page comic strip satire, "Col. Ollie," appreared in the long-defunct [[Clinton Street Theater#History|''Clinton Street Quarterly'']], in the summer of 1987.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Wuerker |first1=Matt |author-link = Matt Wuerker |title=Col. Ollie |journal=[[Clinton Street Theater#History|Clinton Street Quarterly]] |date=Summer 1987 |volume=9 |issue=2 |pages=34–35 |url=https://content.library.pdx.edu/files/PDXScholar/CSQ-Summer1987/34/ |access-date=8 March 2025}}</ref>

In a 1995 episode of the TV series ''[[Sliders (TV series)|Sliders]]'', Cornel North {{sic}} is [[President of the United States]] on a parallel Earth.<ref>[https://tv.apple.com/us/episode/summer-of-love/umc.cmc.4ysui0kkb15t25inj276idql9 Sliders - Summer of Love]</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Further reading ==
* {{cite book|author=Ben Bradlee Jr.|title=Guts and Glory: The Rise and Fall of Oliver North|publisher=Donald I. Fine, Inc|year=1998|isbn=1556110537|author-link=Benjamin C. Bradlee#Early life and ancestry|url=https://archive.org/details/gutsgloryrisefal00brad}}
* {{Cite book|last=Meyer|first=Peter|title=Defiant Patriot: the Life and Exploits of Lt. Colonel Oliver L. North|publisher=St. Martin's Press|year=1987|isbn=0312910916|oclc=16774532|url=https://archive.org/details/defiantpatriot00pete}}
* {{cite web|url=http://nsarchive.gwu.edu/NSAEBB/NSAEBB2/index.html|title=The Contras, Cocaine, and U.S. Covert Operations|website=Nsarchive.gwu.edu|access-date=January 20, 2016}}

== External links ==
{{Sister project links|wikt=no|q=Oliver North|b=no|s=no|commons=Category:Oliver North|n=no|v=no|species=no|d=Q431223|voy=no|m=no|mw=no}}
{{Portal|Biography}}
* {{official website}}
* {{IMDb name|0636048}} list of Oliver North's television appearances
* [http://www.freedomalliance.org Freedom Alliance]
* [http://www.creators.com/opinion/oliver-north.html Oliver North Features] at [[Creators Syndicate]]
* {{cite web|url= http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB113|title=The Oliver North File|publisher=[[The National Security Archive]]/[[George Washington University]]}}
* [http://www.brown.edu/Research/Understanding_the_Iran_Contra_Affair/v-on22.php C-SPAN Sen. Inouye Remarks to Oliver North on Military Ethics and Iran-Contra]
* [http://americanrhetoric.com/speeches/olivernorthfrancontrahearing.htm Transcript, Audio, Video of North's Opening Statement During the Iran Contra Hearings] from AmericanRhetoric.com
* {{C-SPAN|2006}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:North, Oliver Lawrence}}
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