Tower Commission

The Commission's report, published on February 27, 1987, concluded that CIA Director William Casey, who supported the Iran-Contra arrangement, should have taken over the operation and made the president aware of the risks and notified Congress as legally required.

Indeed, the short deadline set by the President for completion of the board's work and its limited resources precluded a separate and thorough field investigation.

Instead, the board has examined the events surrounding the transfer of arms to Iran as a principal case study in evaluating the operation of the National Security Council in general and the role of the N.S.C.

[1]Because of its limited mandate, the Commission had no powers to subpoena documents, compel testimony, or grant immunity from prosecution.

[5] Issued on February 26, 1987, the commission's report "held Reagan accountable for a lax managerial style and aloofness from policy detail.