Did Ronald Reagan Prolong the Iran Hostage Crisis?

On November 4^th, 1979 a group of Irian students would storm the U.S Embassy, and as a result sixty United State Diplomats and United States citizen would be taken hostage. This standoff and hostage situation would not end until January 21, 1981, totally at 444 days. While this was taking place Americans waited anxiously, watching the news, peaceful and violent protesting and yellow ribbons to remember the hostages. At the beginning of Hostage situation, the President of the was Jimmy Carter and the situation did not seem to resolve itself, there was no progress being made. However, the 1980 was an election and Ronald Reagan was elected President and short after his inauguration the hostages were set free and this is where the conspiracies arose.

               

Historically, with all Presidential Election years there is an “October Surprise,” and the election of 1980 was no different. Democrats had released an allegation that the Republican Party’s candidate Ronald had secret meeting with the Iranian Government. The previous statement is illustrated in the following quote: “The Reagan party always denied that they had any back-door negotiation with Ayatollah Khomeini’s revolution regime during the Hostage Crisis. They specifically denied that Campaign manager William J. Casey, traveled to meet with Ayatollah in Madrid. It was claimed at this meeting, Casey suggested if they continue the Hostage Crisis until Reagan is sworn into Office, the United State will still resume arms sales to the Iranians.” Why would, Reagan benefit from negotiate with the Iranian people? Well, two reasons :1.) Ronald Reagan had the American Bad-A** mentality, and if it appeared the Iranian people were intimidated enough by Reagan to release the Hostage hopefully this fear would be an epidemic around the world. 2.) If the Hostage were released shortly after Vegan's inauguration he would gave approval from the American people. As one may observe, Reagan did have motivations to negotiate with the Iranian people, in order to better his presidential persona, and legacy. With the motivates provided, do you think Reagan prolonged the hostage situation for political gain?

Work Cited

https://www.history.com/topics/iran-hostage-crisis

http://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-bird-conspiracies-october-surprises-20170620-story.html