during the reagan presidency, he secured the purchase of awacs surveillance aircraft despite opposition from the american israel public affairs committee. after the united states rejected an arms order, he arranged the delivery of intermediate-range nuclear-warhead-capable missiles from china. this angered the central intelligence agency and the united states department of state. he was exposed for his involvement in the iran-contra scandal. he had arranged $32 million in saudi financing for the nicaraguan contras. nancy reagan used him to relay messages to the cabinet.