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>> in a packed room, on live tv, the hearings began in early may, 1987. >> the senate select committee s on secret military assistance on iran and the nicaraguan opposition will come to order. >> the enterprise's money and logistics man, richard seacord was the first to testify. >> am i correct, mr. seacord, that you were engaged in selling arms to the contras for profit? >> that's correct. >> with millions watching, a parade of witnesses began to unpack a story of global intrigue and personal malfeasance, including oliver north's loyal assistant, fawn hall. >> i believe in colonel north and i...

Benefits that we might achieve outweighed the risk. the president said, i don't think i could ever forgive myself if we didn't try to get the hostages back. >> ronald hagreagan would make decision that would change the course of his presidency. the secret sale of arms to iran would go forward. to oversee the program, reagan turned to a trusted hand. lieutenant colonel olive north. north became the lynch pin between the two covert operations. >> at an operational level, north was ever where. >> north oversaw two secret deliveries to iran. >> at that .1 hostage was

Regul reagan's wealthiest political donors. >> make sure there was chocolate on the bed. >> the enterprise raked in millions from foreign governments. >> got $32 million from the saudis. $2 million from taiwan. >> to manage the contributions and supply arms to the contras, north enlisted retired general richard sea cort. >> he was an arms dealer. he was clearly out to make a profit. >> dick developed a logistic pipeline that moved military equipment and other resources to the contras in nicaragua. >> it was an octopus of a covert operation network. >> the war in nicaragua wasn't the only globa...

Released. >> i am policed to inform you benjam benjam benjam benjamin weir has now been released. >> north knew where to spend the windfall. his other secret effort, the enterprise. >> olie recommended we use the iranian money to help fund the contra program. and i thought that made a lot of sense and agreed with him. >> flush with new funds, the contra war expanded through 1986. and the death toll rose into the tens of thousands.

To protect and serve your fellow citizens. i am troubled by a pattern. we lost 58,000 men in vietnam. 4,000 in iraq. many others lost their arms and legs. i asked colonel north, i said what would you had advise your own son now that two wars have been lost not on the battlefield but in walk by politicians. would you had advise your son to go into the military? he answer was, not for two years. what your answer? you lost your son. >> i did. mark gave his very best on the battlefield, willingly stood up in the direct line of fire three times on that day on purpose to defend our country and to de...