---
aliases:
- Ronald Reagan
- Ronald Wilson Reagan
born: 1911-02-06
category: Intelligence & Government
created: 2024-04-25
died: 2004-06-05
location: Tampico, Illinois
summary: 40th President of the United States who authorized CIA operations in Nicaragua,
  oversaw the Contra war and the secret drug-crimes reporting exemption, while simultaneously
  prosecuting the War on Drugs.
tags:
- Person
- Politician
- DarkAllianceInvestigation
- OctoberSurprise
- IranContra
title: Ronald Reagan
updated: 2026-05-17
---

Ronald Reagan was the 40th President of the [United States](/places/united-states/), serving from 1981 to 1989. His administration's first Middle East crisis involved the Israeli bombing of the Iraqi nuclear reactor at [Osirak bombing](/events/osirak-bombing/) in June 1981. Upon being informed of the bombing by his national security adviser, [Richard V. Allen](/people/richard-v-allen/), Reagan privately expressed delight, remarking, "Well. Boys will be boys."[^1] Despite public condemnation from the [State Department](/organizations/state-department/) and proposals from some of his high command, including [Caspar Weinberger](/people/caspar-weinberger/), to sanction [Israel](/places/israel/) by canceling F-16 aircraft sales, Reagan had no intention of taking such steps. The suspension of F-16 deliveries was lifted two months later.[^1]

### Contra War and Drug Policy

Reagan authorized [Central Intelligence Agency](/organizations/central-intelligence-agency/) operations in [Nicaragua](/places/nicaragua/) and made the Contra war a central pillar of his foreign policy.[^2] He signed Executive Order 12333 in 1981, the same week he authorized CIA operations in Nicaragua, establishing rules that gave the CIA veto power over Justice Department crimes reporting proposals. This framework led to the secret 1982 agreement between CIA director [William J. Casey](/people/william-j-casey/) and Attorney General [William French Smith](/people/william-french-smith/) that exempted CIA assets from drug crimes reporting.[^3]

Reagan's administration simultaneously prosecuted the "War on Drugs" while the CIA's Contra army was connected to [cocaine](/concepts/cocaine/) trafficking in American cities. The passage of anti-crack laws during Reagan's presidency packed prisons with thousands of young black dealers while the cocaine importers who supplied them walked free.[^4]

[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991.
[^2]: Webb, Gary. *Dark Alliance: The CIA, the Contras, and the Crack Cocaine Explosion.* Seven Stories Press, 1998. Chapter 9: "He would have had me by the tail"
[^3]: Webb, Gary. *Dark Alliance: The CIA, the Contras, and the Crack Cocaine Explosion.* Seven Stories Press, 1998. Epilogue: "The damage that has been done"
[^4]: Webb, Gary. *Dark Alliance: The CIA, the Contras, and the Crack Cocaine Explosion.* Seven Stories Press, 1998. Chapter 27: "A very difficult decision"