The seismic fallout from the Iran-Contra affair exposed a staggering truth: the American public learned their CIA was allegedly involved in trafficking both drugs and weapons throughout South America. This massive scandal sent shockwaves through the Reagan White House. The proximity of the timing is crucial: VP George H.W. Bush, who served throughout this tenure, then launched his 1988 presidential bid, aggressively campaigning on a platform to crush drugs flooding the border. A historical pivot