(Reuters) – Robert McFarlane has passed away. He was a White House advisor who tapped Saudi royals in order to finance a war in Nicaragua, and also flew in secret to buy arms from Iran during the scandal that rocked Ronald Reagan’s presidency. He was aged 84.

McFarlane, the son of Scott McFarlane, said that McFarlane passed away on Thursday due to an exacerbation in a lung condition. McFarlane was born in Washington, and was admitted to the hospital while visiting family members in Michigan.