Final answer:
Reagan avoided direct blame for the Iran-Contra affair due to his hands-off management style and lack of concrete evidence tying him to the scandal, as well as the confessions of his aides that suggested he had not directly authorized the actions.
Step-by-step explanation:
President Reagan managed to avoid direct blame for the Iran-Contra affair primarily through his management style and the narrative that unfolded around it. His hands-off approach led many to believe that the operations were conducted without him being directly aware, reinforced by his numerous 'I don't recall' statements during testimonies.
Additionally, Reagan's administration experienced several resignations, and owing to his delegation of tasks, it was plausible to the American public that the actions were taken without his direct authorization. His predecessors helped corroborate this defense due to his image as an aloof president. Ultimately, Reagan's popularity took a hit, but aides' confessions and lack of concrete evidence of his personal involvement meant he escaped significant consequences like impeachment.