President Ronald Reagan was able to avoid direct blame for the Iran-Contra affair through several strategic actions. Firstly, he maintained plausible deniability by creating a firewall between himself and the illegal operation. This was achieved through the use of intermediaries, such as National Security Advisor John Poindexter and Lieutenant Colonel Oliver North, who were willing to take the fall and shield Reagan from direct involvement. Additionally, Reagan deflected attention and blame by emphasizing his lack of knowledge about the details of the operation and portrayed himself as an uninvolved figurehead. Lastly, his immense popularity and charisma allowed him to command public trust, making it easier for him to distance himself from the scandal and evade direct responsibility.
