Admirers and protesters alike came to see Oliver North arrive for a book signing at Barnes & Noble Bookstore.
“I really admire him,” said Gayle Shindler, who drove from Los Angeles to get an armful of books signed on Sept. 11. “He’s just got a good heart and he really supports the military.”
Others, however, were there to protest his visit to Bakersfield, saying that the American people should be aware of the history of our country.
“I find it hypocritical for a man who sold weapons to a terrorist country to now profit off of tragedy,” said Douglas McAfee, spokesman of Peace Bakersfield, a group that protests frequently.
North is a former U.S. Marine colonel who became famous during the Iran-Contra scandal of the 1980s.
Convicted of arranging secret arms sales to Iran, North lied to Congress about the operation.
He had used the money to fund the Contras, a Nicaraguan rebel group, but his convictions were overturned when he was granted immunity after testifying before Congress.
North now hosts a weekly Fox News Channel show.
Some veterans had been waiting since 6 a.m. to be the first to greet North, and were ready to let the protesters know how they felt about their signs.
“The protesters are a disgrace to this country and the veterans who fought and died for this country,” said Ned Robey, a veteran who was there to have a book signed for his grandson.
Hundreds bought his new book, “The Jericho Sanction.”
Although it is the second in a series of three novels, North first began writing non-fiction books.
When asked what was stranger in his life, truth or fiction, he replied, “Truth.” He did not explain why.