Oliver North signed copies of his best-selling book, “Under Fire: An American Story,” on Feb. 13, 1992, at two Lexington bookstores. He signed 400 books in one hour at The Corner Stone on Woodhill Drive and at least 700 in two hours at Family Bookstores in Fayette Mall. North, 48 at the time of this picture, was a former Marine lieutenant colonel who became a celebrity when he testified before Congress about his part in a covert operation to sell U.S. arms to Iran and divert the profits to the rebels in Nicaragua. In 1989, he was convicted of several charges, including lying to Congress. The case was later dismissed on appeal. At one of the Lexington signings, a reporter asked him if he had solicited additional money in Kentucky at the time. He said, jokingly, “This is going to sound unusual, senator, but I just don’t remember.” People in line waited more than 90 minutes for North’s autograph, and many bought more than one copy of his book. But not all were there to praise the ex-National Security Council staff member. At the mall, eight people handed out fliers with North’s photograph under the headline “American Hero?” “When he lied to Congress, he broke a vow to serve the United States,” said one of the protesters, Patrick Ranney, 25, of Lexington. Police said there was a bomb threat at Fayette Mall while North was there. They found no explosives. Mall customers were not told of the threat. Photo by Charles Bertram | Staff