Use the excerpt from Reagan's speech on support for the Contras to answer the question.
Using Reagan’s speech on the Contras, answer (a), (b), and (c).
In 1–2 sentences, explain the primary purpose of this speech.
In 2–3 sentences, describe the measures Congress had taken in response to the above.
In 1–2 sentences, identify the ultimate actions taken by the Reagan administration in response to the issues presented.
(a) The primary purpose of the speech was to advocate for and seek public support for the Contras, a guerrilla group fighting the Sandinista government in Nicaragua, and to criticize Congress for not providing sufficient funding for their efforts.
(b) In response to Congress's limitations on funding for the Contras, the Reagan administration had sought alternative sources of funding and support, including covert operations and arms sales to Iran.
(c) Ultimately, the Reagan administration's actions led to the Iran-Contra scandal, in which administration officials were found to have illegally sold arms to Iran in exchange for hostages and used the profits to fund the Contras, in violation of U.S. law. Several officials were convicted and the scandal severely damaged Reagan's presidency.
(a) The primary purpose of Reagan's speech on the Contras was to rally support for providing military aid to the Contras and to garner public and political support for the administration's policy in Nicaragua.
(b) In response to the issue, Congress had imposed a ban on military assistance to the Contras and had also passed the Boland Amendment, which restricted the Reagan administration's ability to support the Contras financially.
(c) In response to the issues presented, the Reagan administration sought alternative means of supporting the Contras. They engaged in covert operations, known as the Iran-Contra affair, to facilitate the sale of arms to Iran in exchange for funds that were then redirected to the Contras, bypassing congressional restrictions and continuing their support.