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William Casey
Former CIA Director
CIA Director who orchestrated Iran-Contra and Central American death squads
Overview
CIA Director under Reagan (1981-1987) who was the chief architect of the Iran-Contra affair, authorizing secret arms sales to Iran and illegal funding of Nicaraguan Contras. Casey operated a"shadow CIA"that circumvented Congressional oversight, ran death squads in Central America, and supported brutal dictatorships. Died of brain cancer before he could face charges.
Key Affiliations
Controversies & Concerns
Chief architect of Iran-Contra affair
Authorized illegal arms sales to Iran
Diverted profits to fund Nicaraguan Contras in violation of Boland Amendment
Oversaw CIA support for Central American death squads
Lied to Congress about covert operations
Died before facing charges or testimony
Related Investigations (7)
CIA Coups & Regime ChangeCriminal Justice
Tier 1
criticalCIA Drug TraffickingMilitary & Foreign Policy
Tier 1
criticalIran-Contra Affair: Arms, Drugs, and the Subversion of DemocracyGovernment Corruption
Tier 1
criticalIran-Contra AffairIntelligence & Covert Operations
Tier 1
criticalThe October Surprise (1980)Election Integrity
Tier 1
criticalPanama Invasion: Operation Just CauseCriminal Justice
Tier 1
criticalUS Support for ApartheidMilitary & Foreign Policy
Tier 2
criticalCriminal Charges & Violations
7 documented violations
Boland Amendment ViolationsIllegal funding of Nicaraguan Contra rebels after Congress explicitly banned it(Constitutional Violation)
Arms Export Control Act: 22 U.S.C. § 2778Illegal weapons sales to Iran(National Security)
Conspiracy Against the United States: 18 U.S.C. § 371Orchestrated Iran-Contra operation(Conspiracy)
False Statements: 18 U.S.C. § 1001Lying to Congress about covert operations(Obstruction)
ICC Rome Statute Article 7: Crimes Against HumanitySupport for death squads and mass atrocities in Central America(International Crime)
ICC Rome Statute Article 8: War CrimesTorture, extrajudicial killings, and targeting civilians(International Crime)
Geneva Conventions: Common Article 3Violations in treatment of civilians and prisoners(International Crime)
Known Associates & Connections
Ronald Reagan
President
Oliver North
NSC aide who ran operations
George H.W. Bush
Vice President with CIA background
John Poindexter
National Security Advisor
Caspar Weinberger
Secretary of Defense
Augusto Pinochet
CIA-backed dictator
Sources & Documentation
5 documented sources from official records, investigations, and reports
Personal Information
- Born
- March 13, 1913
- Birthplace
- Elmhurst, New York
Education
- •Fordham University
- •St. John's University School of Law
Key Timeline
March 13, 1913
Born in Elmhurst, New York
1943-1945
Serves in OSS during World War II
1971
Chair of Securities and Exchange Commission
1980
Campaign manager for Ronald Reagan
January 28, 1981
Confirmed as CIA Director
1981
Begins covert war against Nicaragua
1981-1983
Oversees CIA support for Guatemalan death squads
1984
Congress passes Boland Amendment banning Contra aid
1985-1986
Authorizes secret arms-for-hostages deal with Iran
1985-1986
Diverts Iran arms sale profits to Contras
October 1986
Eugene Hasenfus shot down, Iran-Contra exposed
November 1986
Iran-Contra scandal breaks publicly
December 15, 1986
Suffers seizure, brain tumor discovered
January 29, 1987
Resigns as CIA Director
May 6, 1987
Dies before facing Congressional testimony or charges