On the 4th of July 1986 Ronald Reagan is at the peak of his popularity. Shultz is in the midst of preparations for the summit meeting between Reagan and Gorbachev, set to take place in Reykjavik, Iceland. But news breaks that the United States was indeed trading arms for the Nicaraguan Contras to get the hostages out of Iran, and Newsweek reveals that the CIA is mining the harbor in Managua.
Shultz must once again confront President Reagan. There are congressional hearings and on “Face the Nation,” Shultz risks his job by telling the truth.
Turmoil and Triumph: Reagan and GorbachevReagan and Gorbachev
The Reykjavik summit leads to the most significant nuclear arms reduction pact of the Cold War and is the pinnacle of Shultz’ career in government service.
In January 1989, Shultz leaves the State Department. He returns to the world of ideas as a fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University and continues to travel the world as a passionate advocate for nuclear disarmament.
Monday, July 26 at 10 pm on PBS-HD.
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