March 4, 1981—President Reagan signs a finding authorizing money for political backing to moderate Christian Democrats and military officers in El Salvador.
December 1, 1981—President Reagan signs a finding providing for the first lethal assistance to the contras to oppose the Sandinista government in Nicaragua; $19 million is to be spent to train and arm a 500-man paramilitary force in conjunction with Argentina. The finding is outlined to the congressional intelligence committees as an effort to save El Salvador by interdicting arms shipments from Nicaragua to the leftist rebels in El Salvador.
March 10, 1982—First public disclosure that President Reagan had authorized the covert support to the contras.
December 1982—President Reagan signs into law the first Boland Amendment, which prohibits the expenditure of funds “for the purpose of overthrowing the Government of Nicaragua.”
September 20, 1983—At the urging of the intelligence committees, President Reagan signs a second finding on the Nicaragua operation, declaring that the covert program is designed to induce the Sandinista government to negotiate and pressure them to cease support to the Salvadoran rebels. Congress finally authorizes $24 million for the next year.
April 1984—The CIA’s direct role in the mining of Nicaraguan harbors is publicly disclosed. Congress refuses to authorize another $21 million sought by the Reagan Administration. Secret funding from Saudi Arabia, at the rate of $1 million a month, begins in July 1984.
October 1984—Congress cuts off funding to the contras and bans any support, “directly or indirectly,” until December 1985. The Saudis secretly contributed another $15-$24 million.
December 1985—Congress partially lifts the ban and authorizes limited assistance to prevent the contras from being decimated; the CIA is allowed to provide intelligence “advice” and communications equipment and training. President Reagan signs a finding January 9, 1986, authorizing this limited assistance, which costs $13 million. In addition Congress authorizes $27 million in “humanitarian” contra assistance, including food, medical supplies and some transportation. The State Department was authorized to solicit additional “humanitarian” aid from third countries.
October 1986—Congress lifts the ban, and $100 million is authorized for the contras.