Under Fire: An American Story - Softcover

Oliver L. North; William Novak

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0061090565 ISBN 13: 9780061090561

Publisher: HarperPaperbacks, 1992

Synopsis

The man who was ordered by Reagan and his cronies to help conduct the covert pipeline of funds to the Nicaraguan contras presents his side of the story, recounting his youth, his service in Vietnam, and his trial. Reprint.

About this title

From AudioFile:

This autobiography of Lt. Colonel Oliver North covers his childhood, his military career--including Vietnam, his troubled marriage, near nervous breakdown and his own version of the events that became known as Iran-Contra. The subjective storytelling techniques he and co-author William Novak chose work well in the audio format. Without being too obvious, Christopher Hurt gives the impression of someone telling his own story sounding confused, angry, incredulous or grateful, as needed. The program includes some notes and an appendix with two documents: a commendation from Ronald Reagan and a plea for clemency prepared by his lawyers. W.W.G. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine

From Library Journal:

Written in secret as if it were a covert operation, then suddenly released, this is unquestionably the "event" book of the year. Here, finally, we might expect to get answers to our questions about what became known as "Iran-contra." Was Marine Lieutenant Colonel North a "loose cannon" on the National Security Council, making U.S. foreign policy on his own? And just what did President Reagan really know about Iran-contra? North writes that Reagan "knew everything" about Iran-contra's covert operations. So too did Vice President Bush. Unfortunately, there is no specific document in the book proving that. What there is, however, is a preponderance of material that leads to an inevitable conclusion: North was a hard-working, well-trained, loyal Marine incapable of undertaking a covert operation without approval by his superiors. For the first time, we hear of and read a document sent to Reagan by North's lawyers, setting forth a sound legal argument for a presidential pardon for North. The letter, we learn, was never acknowledged. There are a number of such chilling moments in this important book. Recommended for most libraries.
- Chet Hagan, Berks Cty. P.L. System, Pa.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: HarperPaperbacks
• Publication date: 1992
• ISBN 10: 0061090565
• ISBN 13: 9780061090561
• Binding: Mass Market Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 544