Robert McFarlane

Robert Carl " Bud " McFarlane ( born July 12, 1937 in Texas) was an American government official, National Security Advisor under U.S. President Ronald Reagan from 1983 to the end of 1985 and one of the major players in the Iran - Contra affair. He and his successor, Admiral John Poindexter were both involved in the Iran - as well as in the Nicaraguan side of the scandal.

When the scandal became public, McFarlane tried to commit suicide in 1987 with an overdose of Valium. He was sentenced to two years in prison because he had lied to the inquiry committee. President George Bush pardoned him in 1992, together with other key figures in the scandal.

Early years

After graduating from high school McFarlane attended the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis. He received awards in the United States Marine Corps. After his basic training in Quantico, Virginia, he was sent to the Association of Marine Artillery in Vietnam.