Tower Commission

The Tower Commission was a presidential commission of inquiry established to investigate the Iran-Contra Affair. It was headed by former Senator John Tower.

The commission's investigation focused on the years 1984 to 1986. Its conclusions were largely seen as a cover-up, as it declared that some individuals in the National Security Council, interested in the release of hostages in Lebanon, had tried to make a deal with the Iranians, selling them 97 TOW missiles and some Hawk missiles. The commission made no mention of the ongoing original arms channel between Israel and Iran, despite Tower's inside knowledge of the weapons trade with Iran.¹

George H.W. Bush later nominated Tower for defense secretary, but he was not confirmed by Congress due to the controversy surrounding the commission's findings.¹