New ‘October Surprise’ Series
The latest evidence of a history-changing Republican dirty trick in 1980 and its precursor in 1968. (For earlier articles about the October Surprise mystery, go to “Archives” at the Home Page and click on “October Surprise X-Files.”)
President Lyndon Johnson’s legacy is in the news – whether his many domestic achievements should outweigh his disastrous escalation of the Vietnam War – but no attention is being paid to evidence that LBJ might have ended the war if not for Richard Nixon’s sabotage, writes Robert Parry.
Reagan-Bush Ties to Iran-Hostage Crisis
The Senate wants to block Iran’s new UN ambassador because he was linked to the Iran hostage crisis 35 years ago, but that standard would strip honors from Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush, implicated in extending the hostage crisis to win the 1980 election, reports Robert Parry.
Robert Strauss’s Watergate Secret
Robert Strauss, who died Wednesday, was a Democratic powerbroker who thrived in the age of Nixon, Reagan and Bush-41. But an enduring Watergate mystery is whether Strauss earned his GOP spurs by secretly helping the Republicans in the spy scandal, reports Robert Parry.
Does Nixon’s ‘Treason’ Boost LBJ’s Legacy?: The Vietnam War has doomed President Lyndon Johnson to a lowly status among presidents, overshadowing his domestic successes. But LBJ’s ranking might change if the new evidence on Richard Nixon sabotaging LBJ’s Vietnam peace talks were factored in, writes Robert Parry.
Robert Gates Double-Crosses Obama: Former Defense Secretary Robert Gates is slamming President Obama in a new memoir, accusing him of lacking enthusiasm for the Afghan War. But perhaps Obama’s bigger mistake was trusting Gates, a Bush Family operative with a history of dirty dealing, writes Robert Parry.
Judge Leon’s Dirty Climb to the Bench: Civil libertarians are cheering federal judge Richard Leon for his ruling against the NSA’s massive surveillance program – and that’s all to the good – but Leon’s route to the bench followed a twisted course of partisan investigations and one historic cover-up, Robert Parry reports.
Almost Thwarting Nixon’s Dirtiest Trick: In 1968, the public anger over the Vietnam War tempted GOP presidential nominee Richard Nixon to sabotage Democratic peace talks to seal his victory, a dirty trick that Saigon-based journalist Beverly Deepe nearly exposed before American voters went to the polls.
A CIA Hand in an American ‘Coup’?: The U.S. government decries leaks, but the other side of the story is that key chapters of American history are hidden from the public for decades and maybe forever. The CIA has just admitted its 1953 Iran coup and may never acknowledge a role in ousting Jimmy Carter in 1980, Robert Parry reports.
Second Thoughts on October Surprise: New evidence has shaken the confidence of former Rep. Lee Hamilton in his two-decade-old judgment clearing Ronald Reagan’s 1980 campaign of going behind President Carter’s back to frustrate his efforts to free 52 U.S. hostages in Iran, the so-called October Surprise case, Robert Parry reports.
What a Real Cover-up Looks Like: Republicans won’t let go of their conspiracy theory about some nefarious “cover-up” in “talking points” for Ambassador Susan Rice’s TV interviews on the Benghazi attack. But they should at least have better skills for detecting a real cover-up, since they’ve had direct experience, as Robert Parry documents.
Does Woodward Know Watergate?: Republicans are hyping the flap over Benghazi talking points by calling it “worse than Watergate,” a false narrative that Bob Woodward has helped along by ignoring new evidence connecting Richard Nixon’s sabotage of Vietnam War peace talks in 1968 to his political spying in 1971-72, writes Robert Parry.
Another Ignored Russian Warning: One year after the Cold War ended, Russia tried to cooperate with a U.S. national security investigation into possible treason by senior American officials only to see the information ignored. Two decades later, Russians feel their warning about a Boston Marathon bomber was ignored again, Robert Parry reports.
Rethinking Watergate/Iran-Contra: New evidence continues to accumulate showing how Official Washington got key elements of the Watergate and Iran-Contra scandals wrong, especially how these two crimes of state originated in treacherous actions to secure the powers of the presidency, writes Robert Parry.
‘October Surprise’ and ‘Argo’: Iran’s ex-President Bani-Sadr, in criticizing inaccurate history in “Argo,” says most Iranian officials wanted a quick end to the 1980 U.S.-Iranian hostage crisis, but Ronald Reagan’s presidential campaign struck a deal with Ayatollah Khomeini to delay the hostages’ release, reports Robert Parry.
Waking Up to Iran’s Real History: An Oscar frontrunner for best picture is “Argo,” depicting a little-known chapter of the U.S-Iran hostage standoff in 1979-81. Yet, while focusing on this story of six hostages escaping, “Argo” missed bigger dramas, before and after, as David Swanson explained.
The L’Enfant Plaza Hotel Mystery: To understand why U.S. foreign policy is floundering in the Middle East, one must go back to the pivotal 1980 election when President Carter’s hopes for a second term hinged on getting Iran to release 52 U.S. hostages and Republicans went behind his back, writes Robert Parry.
How Neocons Messed Up the Mideast: Newly available documents reveal how Ronald Reagan’s neocon aides cleared the way for Israeli arms sales to Iran in 1981, shortly after Iran freed 52 U.S. hostages whose captivity doomed Jimmy Carter’s reelection. The move also planted the seeds of the Iran-Contra scandal, reports Robert Parry.
Richard Nixon’s Even-Darker Legacy:Richard Nixon, who was born a century ago, cast a long shadow over U.S. politics, arguably reaching to the anything-goes tactics of today’s Republican Party. His admirers want to reverse history’s negative judgment but perhaps the Nixon centennial can finally allow for recognition of Nixon’s dirtiest trick, says Robert Parry.
Who Bombed Ben-Menashe’s House?: Montreal police may hope to just nail the “torch,” the culprit who hurled a fire-bomb into the home of ex-Israeli spy Ari Ben-Menashe. But to solve the mystery, they may have to delve into Ben-Menashe’s complex intelligence ties, including his hostile relations with his old superiors in Israel, writes Robert Parry.
Ben-Menashe Case Eyes Bomb Residue: The investigation of the firebombing of the upscale Montreal home of ex-Israeli intelligence officer Ari Ben-Menashe is looking at the possibility the accelerant was more sophisticated than available to common criminals, reports Robert Parry.
Arson Seen in Attack on Ex-Israeli Spy: Suspected arson destroyed the Montreal home of ex-Israeli intelligence officer Ari Ben-Menashe, who says he escaped through a rear door. It’s unclear if the fire was an assassination attempt to finally silence a man who has angered the Israeli government, powerful Republicans and others, writes Robert Parry.
–The Death Toll of Watergate: Major gaps in the history of Watergate and Iran-Contra have let Republicans minimize those scandals by comparing them to the fabricated “scandal” over the Benghazi attacks. A fuller understanding of Watergate would reveal its links to Richard Nixon’s prolonging the Vietnam War, writes Robert Parry.
–The October Surprise Mysteries: With hopes brightening that President Obama is close to a negotiated settlement of the Iran nuclear dispute, Mitt Romney’s campaign is eager to counter any positive news. The moment is reminiscent of past October Surprise moments, says Robert Parry in this article adapted from America’s Stolen Narrative
–An Israeli October Surprise for Obama?: A pressing foreign policy question of the U.S. presidential race is whether Israel might exploit this politically delicate time to bomb Iran’s nuclear sites and force President Obama to join the attack or face defeat at the polls, a predicament with similarities to one President Carter faced in 1980, writes Robert Parry. Aug. 18, 2012
–Bohemian Grove & Reagan’s ‘Treason’: This weekend, Occupy protesters are targeting the Bohemian Grove in California, where well-connected rich men go on retreats several weekends each summer. The secrecy of the 1980 encampment became a factor in the cover-up of possible “treason” by Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush, writes Robert Parry. July 13, 2012
–Shamir’s October Surprise Admission: Two decades ago, ex-Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir offered the stunning confirmation that “of course” an October Surprise plot had blocked President Jimmy Carter from gaining the release of 52 U.S. hostages in Iran, thus helping Ronald Reagan win the presidency in 1980, reports Robert Parry. July 3, 2012
–Admissions on Nixon’s ‘Treason’: Definitive proof of a historical mystery is often elusive, even with archival documents and memoirs. Skeptics can always say some witness or some evidence isn’t perfect. But the case that Richard Nixon sabotaged the Vietnam peace talks in 1968 to win that pivotal election is clear, writes Robert Parry. June 14, 2012
–The Almost Scoop on Nixon’s ‘Treason’: At the end of Campaign 1968, as Richard Nixon feared his narrow lead could disappear if progress were made on Vietnam peace, a U.S. correspondent in Saigon got wind of a cabal between Nixon and South Vietnamese leaders to block peace talks and secure his victory. History was at a crossroads, writes Robert Parry. June 7, 2012
–Profiting Off Nixon’s Vietnam ‘Treason’: The notion of Wall Street bankers meeting in private to discuss profiting off a plot to extend the Vietnam War and risk the lives of thousands of American soldiers may sound like a conspiracy movie script, but it is a tragic reality reflected in once secret White House documents, reports Robert Parry. March 4, 2012
–LBJ’s ‘X’ File on Nixon’s ‘Treason’: In the dusty files of Lyndon Johnson’s presidential library in Austin, Texas, once secret documents and audiotapes tell a dark and tragic story of how Richard Nixon’s team secured the White House in 1968 by sabotaging peace talks that might have ended the Vietnam War four years earlier, Robert Parry reports. March 3, 2012
–The Almost Vanunu: Two decades ago, the U.S. and Israeli governments reached around the world to silence an ex-Israeli intelligence officer who was exposing sensitive secrets. The goal was to discredit, if not capture, Ari Ben-Menashe much the way Israel went after nuclear whistleblower Mordechai Vanunu, reports Marshall Wilson. February 1, 2012
–Unmasking October Surprise Debunker: The fake “debunking” of the 1980 October Surprise case in the early 1990s was driven by a few “journalists,” including Steven Emerson, who has been identified in a recent report as a “misinformation expert” spreading anti-Muslim propaganda, reports Robert Parry. October 30, 2011
–Taking a Bush Secret to the Grave: The National Archives has approved an appeal by journalist Robert Parry seeking release of a 30-year-old secret, the address where George H.W. Bush supposedly went on an October weekend in 1980 — when several witnesses put Bush in Paris meeting with Iranians. But it turns out the “alibi witness” is now dead. September 27, 2011
–Bush’s October Surprise File in Dispute: The enduring October Surprise mystery – whether Ronald Reagan’s 1980 campaign sabotaged President Jimmy Carter’s efforts to free 52 American hostages in Iran – has reached a possible turning point, whether details of George H.W. Bush’s activities on a key day will be released, reports Robert Parry. September 9, 2011
–Keeping a Curious Bush Secret: One of the strange mysteries from the Reagan-Bush era is where did George H.W. Bush go on one Sunday in October 1980 when some witnesses placed him meeting with Iranians in Paris. More than three decades later, Bush’s supposed alibi remains a state secret, Robert Parry reports. August 12, 2011
–October Surprise Evidence Surfaces: Among newly released archival records is the first U.S. documentary evidence that William Casey took a trip to Madrid possibly related to the 1980 October Surprise conspiracy. Doubts that Ronald Reagan’s campaign chief went to Madrid fueled a media frenzy in 1991 to debunk allegations of a secret GOP deal with Iran, says Robert Parry. July 14, 2011
–Inside the October Surprise Cover-up: The George H.W. Bush Library in Texas has just released thousands of pages of documents on the October Surprise mystery, revealing how Bush’s inner circle handled allegations that the Reagan-Bush campaign in 1980 struck a treacherous deal with Iran. It was a textbook case of controlling the narrative, reports Robert Parry. July 12, 2011
–Bob Gates’s ‘Business’ of Lying: As Defense Secretary Robert Gates prepares to retire in late June, he is routinely –lauded as a “wise man” committed to telling it like it is, even making a frank comment this week about how “most governments lie to each other.” But Gates’s own record for honesty is a deeply checkered one, reports Robert Parry. June 17, 2011
–Jimmy Carter’s October Surprise Doubts: Ex-President Jimmy Carter tells an interviewer that he isn’t sure what to believe about the longstanding suspicions that Republicans went behind his back in 1980 to stop him from freeing 52 American hostages in Iran, a failure that contributed to his political demise. But Robert Parry reports that there is a wealth of historical evidence. May 12, 2011
–Twenty Years Ago, a Lost Opportunity
Two decades ago, the U.S. political/media system had a chance to get Ronald Reagan’s history right, but didn’t, says Robert Parry. April 15, 2011
–Don’t Try These GOP Alibis at Home
When powerful Republicans are in a pinch, they can use crazy alibis that would make anyone else look guiltier, says Robert Parry. August 12, 2010
–October Surprise Cover-up Unravels
Die-hard defenders of the October Surprise (1980) cover-up keep citing alibis that have long ago disintegrated, says Robert Parry. August 6, 2010
–Accusation of October Surprise ‘Lying’
Attorney Lawrence Barcella accuses journalist Robert Parry of “lying” about the October Surprise case, and Parry responds. August 5, 2010
–Rethinking Iran-Contra
The recent collapse of the long-running October Surprise cover-up shifts the history on the Iran-Contra scandal, writes Robert Parry. July 1, 2010
–The CIA/Likud Sinking of Jimmy Carter
With the October Surprise cover-up in shambles, the evidence points to a CIA-Likud plot against President Carter, says Robert Parry. June 24, 2010
–The Tricky October Surprise Report
A House task force deceived the American public in clearing Ronald Reagan of a treacherous scheme with Iran, reports Robert Parry. June 17, 2010
–Key October Surprise Evidence Hidden
A Russian report on the 1980 October Surprise case was apparently kept from the chief congressional investigator, says Robert Parry. May 6, 2010
–The October Surprise Crystal Balls
A sub-plot of the 1980 October Surprise mystery is how some Reaganites foresaw the U.S. hostage release, says Robert Parry. November 13, 2009
–The Crazy October Surprise Debunking
To protect the Reagan-Bush-I legacy, Republicans and Democrats created absurd October Surprise alibis, reports Robert Parry. November 6, 2009
–How Two Elections Changed America
Secret Republican operations around elections in 1968 and 1980 set the U.S. on today’s troubled course, says Robert Parry. November 4, 2009
PREVIOUS CONSORTIUM ARTICLES ON OCTOBER SUPRISE 1980
The October Surprise Mystery
(For articles after May 1, 2011, go to homepage and see Categories: October Surprise.)
The Original Eight-Part Series — ‘October Surprise X-Files’
The Russian ReportWhat the KGB knew about the October Surprise mystery, but the American people didn’t. (12-11-95)
The Ladies Room Secrets How historic secrets about this political era were recovered from a remote Capitol Hill wash room. (12-21-95)
Bill Casey’s Iranian What FBI wiretaps captured about secret payments from BCCI and a Bush-connected lawyer to an Iranian “double-agent.”(12-31-95)
Follow the Money How some of the world’s most secretive and powerful players joined forces to fix the pivotal 1980 election. (1-15-96)
Saddam’s ‘Green Light’ What a “top secret” report reveals about the origins of the bloody Iran-Iraq War. (1-31-96)
Where’s Bill Casey How the national news media and Congress “debunked” the October Surprise allegations by adopting bogus alibis for Bill Casey. (2-14-96)
Bush & a CIA Power Play What CIA veterans and former CIA director George Bush did to regain The White House in the 1980s. (2-29-96)
Lies Spun into History How absurd alibis became part of the October Surprise historical record. (3-14-96)
More Recent Updates
Twenty Years Ago, a Lost Opportunity Two decades ago, the U.S. political/media system had a chance to get Ronald Reagan’s history right, but didn’t, says Robert Parry. April 15, 2011
Inside America’s ‘Adjustment Bureau’ Almost like Matt Damon’s movie, “The Adjustment Bureau,” powerful forces redirect U.S. national narratives, explains Robert Parry. March 14, 2011
The Back Story on Iran’s Clashes The U.S. media presents the new street protests in Iran as a morality play, but they are more complex, reports Robert Parry. February 17, 2011
Iranian Students Ask About 1980 Robert Parry responds to questions from Iranian students about the 1980 Iran-US hostage crisis and the October Surprise case. October 30, 2010
Don’t Try These GOP Alibis at Home When powerful Republicans are in a pinch, they can use crazy alibis that would make anyone else look guiltier, says Robert Parry. August 12, 2010
October Surprise Cover-up Unravels Die-hard defenders of the October Surprise (1980) cover-up keep citing alibis that have long ago disintegrated, says Robert Parry. August 6, 2010
Accusation of October Surprise ‘Lying’ Attorney Lawrence Barcella accuses journalist Robert Parry of “lying” about the October Surprise case, and Parry responds. August 5, 2010
To Publish Official Secrets — or Not The Pentagon says disclosing Afghan War secrets has risked lives, but the life-or-death issue is more complicated, writes Robert Parry. July 30, 2010
Rethinking Iran-Contra The recent collapse of the long-running October Surprise cover-up shifts the history on the Iran-Contra scandal, writes Robert Parry. July 1, 2010
The CIA/Likud Sinking of Jimmy Carter With the October Surprise cover-up in shambles, the evidence points to a CIA-Likud plot against President Carter, says Robert Parry. June 24, 2010
The Tricky October Surprise Report A House task force deceived the American public in clearing Ronald Reagan of a treacherous scheme with Iran, reports Robert Parry. June 17, 2010
Key October Surprise Evidence Hidden A Russian report on the 1980 October Surprise case was apparently kept from the chief congressional investigator, says Robert Parry. May 6, 2010
How Two Elections Changed America Secret Republican operations around elections in 1968 and 1980 set the U.S. on today’s troubled course, says Robert Parry. November 4, 2009
The Crazy October Surprise Debunking To protect the Reagan-Bush-I legacy, Republicans and Democrats created absurd October Surprise alibis, reports Robert Parry. November 6, 2009
The October Surprise Crystal Balls A sub-plot of the 1980 October Surprise mystery is how some Reaganites foresaw the U.S. hostage release, says Robert Parry. November 13, 2009
Iran Divided & the ‘October Surprise’ Today’s divisions in Iran’s leadership date back to secret decisions made to influence a U.S. election in 1980, reports Robert Parry. June 24, 2009
GOP Judge Gives Bush a Gitmo Victory A weakness in the habeas corpus hearings for Guantanamo detainees is that many cases will be heard by partisan Republican jurists, like U.S. District Judge Richard Leon, writes Robert Parry. December 31, 2008
Henry Kissinger: Eminence Noire Newly released tapes of Lyndon Johnson denouncing “treason” by Richard Nixon’s campaign in 1968 reflect on Henry Kissinger, who may have joined in dirty tricks then and in 1980, writes Robert Parry. December 28, 2008
The Significance of Nixon’s ‘Treason’ The Richard Nixon campaign’s successful “treason” in sabotaging Vietnam peace talks in 1968 to win an election explains a lot about Republican dominance of the era, writes Robert Parry. December 9, 2008
Nixon’s ‘Treason’ and Historical Gaps In a newly released tape, President Lyndon Johnson accuses Richard Nixon’s team of “treason” over the Vietnam peace talks. But the U.S. news media still misses the big picture, writes Robert Parry. December 5, 2008
Henry Hyde: Mr. Cover-up The death of ex-Congressman Henry Hyde is drawing fond eulogies from both sides of the political aisle and across Official Washington. But no attention is being paid to Hyde’s crucial role in covering up the worst political crimes of the Reagan-Bush era. November 30, 2007
The Original October Surprise Both Republicans and Democrats are fretting about the prospect of an “October Surprise” that might hurt them in the last days of Election 2006. But perhaps no “October Surprise” has been more mysterious or more influential than the one in 1980 that — with the help of George H.W. Bush — gave the concept its name. Arguably, the 1980 “October Surprise,” which involved secret contacts with Iran, launched the modern era of Republican dominance. October 25, 2006
Original October Surprise (Part 2) Part 2 of our series on the “Original October Surprise” of 1980 focuses on the role of banker David Rockefeller and his collaboration with Republicans during the Iranian hostage crisis. That national humiliation, which played out over 444 days, doomed Jimmy Carter’s presidency and helped open the door to the modern era of GOP dominance. October 27, 2006
Original October Surprise (Part 3) Part 3 of our series on the “Original October Surprise” of 1980 addresses the troubling question of whether disgruntled CIA officers collaborated with their former boss, George H.W. Bush, to sabotage President Jimmy Carter’s Iran-hostage negotiations — and thus changed the course of U.S. political history. October 28, 2006
The Bushes & the Truth About Iran As George W. Bush turns to the military option on Iran, the American people first might want to demand that he and his father release secret records about back-channel Republican dealings with the Iranian mullahs dating back to 1980. Those records might show whether face-to-face negotiations with Iran are worth trying, but the documents at least would let the public in on the true history of U.S.-Iranian relations before more people die. September 21. 2006
Secret ‘October Surprise’ Files Some of the historical records about the secret Republican-Iranian relationship were salvaged by this Web site. To review the actual documents and read about their significance, click on the above headline. September 21. 2006
When Republicans Loved a Filibuster Supporters of George W. Bush are furious that some Democrats might filibuster Samuel Alito’s nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court. But 15 years ago, the Republicans mounted a crucial filibuster of their own to block an investigation that might have destroyed the legacy of the Reagan-Bush era — and ended the political viability of the Bush Family. January 27, 2006
The Imperium’s Quarter Century The origins of George W. Bush’s imperial-style government can be traced back to the extraordinary moment a quarter century ago when Ronald Reagan was sworn in as President and 52 Americans hostages were simultaneously freed in Iran. Americans were swept up in a surge of patriotism and many bought into the idea that Reagan’s tough-guy image had scared Iran’s fundamentalist Islamic government. The reality of that fateful day now appears to have been quite different, but the cover-up of a Republican scheme that bordered on treason remains an important state secret even 25 years later. January 20, 2006
The Bushes & the Death of Reason Some Americans can’t understand why George W. Bush and the neoconservatives were so confident in their ability to sell the nation on a bogus case for war with Iraq. Part of the answer can be found in the Republican success in turning back Iran-Contra accusations through the use of irrational arguments. One such case study starts with an unpublished photograph taken at the Bohemian Grove resort on the last weekend of July 1980. May 9, 2005
Real-Life ‘National Treasure’ — in Reverse Walt Disney’s action film, “National Treasure,” is a fanciful hunt for hidden treasure with characters following complex clues left behind by the Founding Fathers. In real-life Washington, the “October Surprise mystery” — whether Republicans sabotaged Jimmy Carter in 1980 with behind-the-back dealings with Iran — represents how the world really works, with modern-day leaders doing all they can to destroy any clues that might lead the nation to an honest conclusion. May 6, 2005
A Lawyer & National Security Cover-ups Prominent Washington lawyer Lawrence Barcella has come under criticism for the use of a false affidavit to convict former CIA officer Edwin Wilson on terrorism charges in 1983. But the unraveling of the Wilson case — and its damage to Barcella’s reputation — also raise new doubts about Barcella’s role in “debunking” the October Surprise allegations that the Reagan-Bush campaign disrupted President Jimmy Carter’s Iran-hostage negotiations before the pivotal national election in 1980. May 4, 2005
David Rockefeller & ‘October Surprise’ Case Election 1980 was a turning point in American political history, but how the Republicans exploited Jimmy Carter’s humiliation over the Iranian hostage crisis to ensure Ronald Reagan’s victory is still little understood. Nor do the American people know the background roles in the “October Surprise” case played by David Rockefeller, the Shah of Iran’s banker, and his many powerful friends. Adapted from Secrecy & Privilege. Posted April 15, 2005
Rockefeller Aide’s Tie to ‘October Surprise’ Some of the most intriguing documents found in the files of the House ‘October Surprise’ Task Force relate to the role of Joseph Verner Reed, one of Chase Manhattan Bank Chairman David Rockefeller’s top aides. According to an FBI agent’s notes, Reed tried to stonewall the investigation of alleged Republican interference in President Carter’s 1980 Iran-hostage negotiations. The Reed documents were never released to the American people but were found by reporter Robert Parry in a Capitol Hill storage room. Part of our new Document Archive. Posted April 12, 2005.
Russian Report on ‘October Surprise’ Case For the first time, we are posting the “confidential” Russian government report about the 1980 “October Surprise” case. The report — a rare case of Moscow cooperating with the United States on an intelligence investigation — asserts that Reagan-Bush campaign officials did secretly negotiate with Iranian leaders behind President Carter’s back. Posted April 5, 2005
Arafat & the Original ‘October Surprise’ Skeletons of an election controversy past — the alleged Reagan-Bush “October Surprise” scheme of 1980 — have surfaced, as a top aide to Palestinian leader Yasir Arafat describes a secret meeting between the PLO and a key Republican. The Arafat aide says the Republican sought the PLO’s help in sabotaging President Carter’s efforts to free 52 American hostages in Iran. November 2, 2004
Russia’s Prime Minister & ‘October Surprise’ Boris Yeltsin’s nominee for Russia’s new prime minister wrote a secret report in 1993, confirming the 1980 ‘October Surprise’ charges and implicating top Republicans in a hostage plot with Iran. Sergey Stepashin sent the explosive report to the U.S. Congress, but the extraordinary document was hidden. By Robert Parry. May 14, 1999
Earl Brian: Reagan’s ‘Scandal Man’ Off to Jail In the early 1990s, the word of Ronald Reagan’s friend Earl Brian helped debunk two major scandals. But now, Brian’s credibility has collapsed with his federal fraud conviction. (8/25/97)
October Surprise: Finally, Time for the Truth? Seven years ago, Jamshid Hashemi, an Iranian businessman and CIA operative, broke his silence about the October Surprise controversy. Now, with more and more public figures corroborating parts of the story, Jamshid Hashemi is revealing new details about this ultimate dirty trick and the CIA. (5/5/97)
October Surprise: Time for Truth? (Part 2) The enduring mystery of George Bush and alleged Paris meetings with Iranians in 1980: Did he go or did he stay? (5/19/97)