Tower Commission

Tower Commission was established by United States President Ronald Reagan in November 1986 to investigate the Iran–Contra affair, a major political scandal involving the National Security Council and the Central Intelligence Agency. The commission was led by John Tower, a former United States Senator from Texas, and included other notable members such as Brent Scowcroft, a former National Security Adviser to Gerald Ford and George H.W. Bush, and Edwin Meese, the Attorney General of the United States at the time. The commission's investigation involved Oliver North, a United States Marine Corps officer and member of the National Security Council staff, and Manuel Noriega, the Panamanian dictator with ties to the CIA and Drug Enforcement Administration. The commission's work also intersected with the investigations of Lawrence Walsh, the Independent Counsel appointed to investigate the Iran–Contra affair, and Daniel Inouye, the United States Senator from Hawaii who chaired the Senate Select Committee on Secret Military Assistance to Iran and the Nicaraguan Opposition.

● Introduction

The Tower Commission was created in response to the growing controversy surrounding the Iran–Contra affair, which involved the secret sale of arms to Iran and the diversion of funds to support the Contras, a group of anti-Sandinista rebels in Nicaragua. The commission's mandate was to investigate the circumstances surrounding the affair and to provide recommendations for preventing similar incidents in the future. The commission's work involved Robert McFarlane, the former National Security Adviser who had played a key role in the Iran–Contra affair, and Caspar Weinberger, the United States Secretary of Defense at the time. The commission also examined the role of William Casey, the former Director of Central Intelligence, and George Shultz, the United States Secretary of State during the Reagan administration.

● Background

The Iran–Contra affair was a major political scandal that involved the Reagan administration's secret support for the Contras and the sale of arms to Iran. The affair was uncovered in November 1986, when Attorney General Edwin Meese announced that funds from the sale of arms to Iran had been diverted to support the Contras. The revelation led to a major political crisis for the Reagan administration, with many members of Congress, including Tip O'Neill and Bob Dole, calling for a full investigation. The Tower Commission was established in response to these calls, with John Tower as its chairman and Brent Scowcroft and Edwin Meese as its other members. The commission's work involved Alexander Haig, the former United States Secretary of State, and Donald Regan, the White House Chief of Staff during the Reagan administration.

● Membership and Structure

The Tower Commission consisted of three members: John Tower, Brent Scowcroft, and Edwin Meese. John Tower was a former United States Senator from Texas and a prominent figure in the Republican Party. Brent Scowcroft was a former National Security Adviser to Gerald Ford and George H.W. Bush, and had also served as the United States Ambassador to the United Nations. Edwin Meese was the Attorney General of the United States at the time and had played a key role in the Reagan administration's response to the Iran–Contra affair. The commission's staff included Rhett Dawson, a former aide to Senator Tower, and James Cannon, a former aide to President Reagan. The commission's work also involved Henry Kissinger, the former United States Secretary of State, and Zbigniew Brzezinski, the former National Security Adviser to Jimmy Carter.

● Investigation and Findings

The Tower Commission conducted a thorough investigation of the Iran–Contra affair, interviewing numerous witnesses and reviewing thousands of documents. The commission's investigation involved Oliver North, Robert McFarlane, and other key figures in the affair. The commission found that the Reagan administration had engaged in a secret and illegal program to support the Contras, and that funds from the sale of arms to Iran had been diverted to support the Contras. The commission also found that President Reagan had been aware of the program, but had not been fully informed of its details. The commission's findings were based on testimony from William Casey, George Shultz, and other senior officials in the Reagan administration. The commission's work also intersected with the investigations of Lawrence Walsh and Daniel Inouye, who were also examining the Iran–Contra affair.

● Report and Recommendations

The Tower Commission issued its report in February 1987, providing a detailed account of the Iran–Contra affair and recommending steps to prevent similar incidents in the future. The commission's report was based on its investigation and findings, and included recommendations for improving the National Security Council's procedures and for increasing Congress's oversight of the executive branch. The commission's report was widely praised for its thoroughness and objectivity, and its recommendations were largely adopted by the Reagan administration and Congress. The commission's work involved Richard Nixon, the former United States President, and Gerald Ford, the former United States President, who both provided input on the commission's recommendations. The commission's report also cited the War Powers Resolution and the Boland Amendment, which had been enacted to limit the executive branch's ability to engage in secret military operations.

● Impact and Legacy

The Tower Commission's report had a significant impact on the Reagan administration and on the United States's foreign policy. The commission's findings and recommendations led to a major overhaul of the National Security Council's procedures and to increased Congress's oversight of the executive branch. The commission's work also led to the establishment of the Independent Counsel statute, which allowed for the appointment of independent prosecutors to investigate executive branch officials. The commission's legacy can be seen in the Iran–Contra affair's impact on the United States's foreign policy, particularly in the Middle East and Central America. The commission's work involved Jimmy Carter, the former United States President, and Walter Mondale, the former Vice President of the United States, who both commented on the commission's findings and recommendations. The commission's report also cited the Camp David Accords and the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, which had been negotiated by the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War.

Category:United States government commissions