North served on the National Security Council under former President Ronald Reagan and was a prominent figure in the "Iran-Contra" hearings. In 1989 he was convicted for misleading Congress about his activities in the White House in the arms-for-hostages deal; the verdict was overturned on appeal.
 
North is a decorated combat veteran who served 22 years in the Marines. In 1994 he lost a bid for the U.S. Senate in Virginia but remains active in politics. According to an April 2 article in the Washington Post, he is actively campaigning for Salvatore Perchiano to unseat Democrat and longtime Virginia State Delegate David G. Brickley in November.