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OLIVER NORTH

Name: Oliver Laurence North                                                             
Born: 7 October 1943 San Antonio, Texas                                                 
                                                                                       
Oliver Laurence North (born October 7, 1943 in San Antonio, Texas) is most well         
known for his involvement in the Iran-Contra Affair. Currently, he is an               
American conservative political commentator, host of "War Stories with Oliver           
North" on Fox News Channel. He is a 1968 graduate of the United States Naval           
Academy and was a career officer in the Marine Corps, retiring at the rank of           
Lieutenant Colonel after twenty years of service. During combat service in             
Vietnam, he was awarded the Silver Star, Bronze Star and two Purple Heart medals.       
                                                                                       
North was at the center of national attention during the Iran-Contra Affair,           
during which he was a key Reagan administration official involved in the               
clandestine sale of weapons to Iran. The sale of these weapons served both to           
encourage the release of US hostages and to generate proceeds to support the           
Contra rebel group. Vice Admiral John M. Poindexter and his deputy, Lieutenant         
Colonel Oliver North secretly diverted to the Nicaraguan Contras millions of           
dollars in funds received from a secret deal - the sales of anti-tank and anti-aircraft 
missiles to Iran - in spite of Reagan's public pledge not to deal with the             
nation.                                                                                 
                                                                                       
North is married to the former Betsy Stuart, whom he met while attending the           
United States Naval Academy. They married on November 13, 1968 (after North was         
commissioned and finished the Basic School at Quantico, Virginia) and have four         
children, Tait, Stuart, Sarah, and Dornin.