GUNG HO' OLIVER NORTH: REAGAN'S MAN OF ACTION

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90-00965R000402690001-3
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 11, 2012
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: November 9, 1986
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/01/11: CIA-RDP90-00965R000402690001-3
"'("`Lt NEW YORK TIMES
ON PAGE 9 November 1986
..,rung Ho' Oliver North:
Meagan's Mari of Action
He also tack part in wnat an official
called "the education of Ronald Rea-
gan," who had come to the White House
with little military experience. Colonel
North organized a nuclear war game
intended to expose the President to the
realities of nuclear conflict.
Newly promoted to eutenant colonel
in 1983, Colonel North did most of the
White House staff work for the invasion
of Grenada in his cramped, austere of-
fice on an upper floor of the Old Execu-
tive Office Building.
Because the operation was to be
mounted in four days, an official said,
"Ollie didn't have time to be diplomatic
- he had to be direct, and he bruised
some generals and admirals."
AbouLlhis time. Colonel North also
became the key action officer or cen-
tral America. He planned and super
-
tri~+ihe mining o i araa uan ar-
3. Ater
it was discovered, many members of
'Congress were highly critical.
After Congress cut off aid to the
'Nicaraguan rebels in 1984, Colonel
North activated a private network that
included Generals Singlaub and Secord
to raise funds and to arrange for deliv-
eries of arms and supplies, officials
say.
Officials who know about Colonel
North's operations say that all have
had the approval of Admiral Poindex-
ter and, indirectly, President Reagan,
and that at no time was he "free-
lancing."
7 By RICHARD HALLORAN
SpcMI to nw Nw York V lmee
WASHINGTON, Nov. 8 -~ For Colonel North, 43 years old, it.
he Marine Carps in Anil 1980. Oil- has been a heady experience, say offi-
t. North covertly led a detachment cers and officials who know him as he
-: ,tern Turk near the border w
Tian. Their to : to assist ree
American hostages a eran.
Government cia who knows
about the previously undisclosed mis-
sion says the marines in the hideout
were ready to fly into the Iranian capi-I
tal if they were needed to cover the es-
cape of the hostages who were to be
rescued by the Army Delta Force.
As it turned out, the rescue mission
was aborted after helicopters broke
down and one collided with a transport
,pia;te on the round in Iran, and Major
North withdrew from Turkey as
4::tely as he had entered.
A little more.than a year later, Major
North i eported to the White House for
.:;,iy on the staff of the National Se-
., ity Council Since then he has
ied a reputation for involvement in
risky, se ret operations, including the
w folding Iranian venture intended to
ain the release of American hoe-
in Lebanon.
Ore: the last five years, the Marine
urps officer, now a lieutenant colonel,
ins become a key official whose role,
:,overnment officials say, has been to
di aw up plans, to have them approved
by Vice Adm. John M. Poindexter,
Pi ,Silent Reagan's national security
nlviser, and to see that they are car-
' -d )ut
Among his tasks, officials say, was to
help equip the the National Security
Council to take part directly in covert
operations. He was also assigned to
draw up Presidential directives in-
tended to provide for continuity in the
Government dui ing a nuclear conflict
The officials say Colonel North was
also deeply involved in planning the in-
vasion of Grenada in 1983, has been the
White House's point man in supporting
Nicaraguan rebel forces and helped
Lary officer of his grade. The associ-
ates say he has also offended many
senior officers, either because they are
jealous or because they resent taking
orders from a lieutenant colonel acting
in the name of the President
Colonel North's work has been so se-
cret that the National Security council
has directed the Marine Corps not to
release his service record, a document
usually available for the asking. But a
portrait of the marine and his career
has been pieced together from military
officers and civilian officials.
Colonel North graduated from the
Naval Academy in 1969 and chose the
Marine Corps. He fought in Vietnam,
won the Silver Star, the third highest
combat decoration, and was wounded.
"Ollie still carries metal around," a
friend said.
In Vietnam, he was assigned to
counterinsurgency operations in which
he met General Singlaub and General
Secord, then lieutenant colonels. He
later served as a planner in the Marine i
Corps headquarters in Washington,
Among several military officers sent
to the National Security Council in
mid- 1, Major North was the most junior.
He was described as a bright, articu-
late officer with a "gung ho" spirit who
saw the world in sharply etched blacks
and whites.
Over time, those who know him say,
Colonel North became "a true believ-
er" in Mr. Reagan's policies. One as-
sociate described him as an action offi-
cer "who reads the President's mind."
Mother said, "Ollie is one who pushes
ideology very hard into practicality."
Among Colonel North's first tasks,
1an ot(1cial said, was to improve the
White House apparatus for crisis man-
agement. including a revamping of the
situation room that is to be used in a
plan the capture of Arab terrorists military alert
after the hijacking of the Italian cruise At the end of 1981, Mr. Reagan eased
ship Achille Lauro last year. out Richard V. Allen as his national se-
Will'
h
A Network of Vietnam C.U guse
In his work, the officials say, Colonel
North has often relied on a network of
military officers and civilian opera-i
tives he met in the Vietnam War. They
include Maj. Gen. John K Singlaub, a
retired Army officer, and Maj. Gen.
Richard V. Secord, a retired All, Force
officer. Both are experienced in un-
conventional operations.
t to tam
curity adviser and broug
P. Clark, a longtime friend, from the,
State Department Mr. Clark brought
with him Robert C. McFarlane, who
took Colonel North under his wing.
As the staff officer in charge of crisis
management, Colonel North reviewed
the Administration's plans for pro-
tracted nuclear war and the survival of
the President and other top officials,
and prepared directives for the Presi-
dent to sign.
Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/01/11: CIA-RDP90-00965R000402690001-3