William J. Casey

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William Joseph Casey (March 13, 1913 - May 6, 1987) was the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency from 1981 to 1987.

A native of Queens, New York, Casey graduated from Fordham University (1934) and St. John's University School of Law (1937). Casey directed the successful presidential campaign of Ronald Reagan in 1980. After Reagan was elected president, he named Casey to the post of Director of Central Intelligence (DCI). During his tenure at the CIA, Casey played a large part in the shaping of Reagan's foreign-policy, particularly its approach to Soviet expansionism.

This period of the Cold War saw a ramping up of the Agency's anti-Soviet activities around the world. Casey was the principal architect of the arms-for-hostages deal that became known as the Iran-Contra affair. He also oversaw covert assistance to the mujahadeen resistance in Afghanistan, the Solidarity movement in Poland, and a number of coups and attempted coups in South- and Central America.

Prior to heading the CIA, in the 1960s, Casey served as chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission. In World War II, he was a member of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS).

William Casey died of brain cancer in 1987.

References

• Casey was featured prominently in Bob Woodward's book Veil: The Secret Wars of the CIA (ISBN 0671601172).