The Hostages
Newspaper with faces of the hostages (“Iranian Hostages Return Home").
The Capture
On November 4, 1979 Iranian students in support of Ayatollah Khomeini destroyed the gates of the U.S. embassy in Tehran and climbed over the walls ("Iran Hostage Crisis"). There were 90 people in the embassy, six of whom evaded capture and hid at Swedish and Canadian embassies, later fleeing Iran with Canadian passports in 1980. Of the 84 remaining at the embassy, those who were not U.S. citizens were released, leaving 66 people captured. They ranged in age from 22 to 65 and worked a myriad of jobs; one hostage was a private businessman who had the misfortune of being in Iran at the time of the capture, while another hostage was the U.S. Consul General in Tehran (“The Hostages and The Casualties").
Early Releases
Thirteen of the 66 hostages were released from the embassy on November 19 and 20 of 1979, only two weeks after the original capture. All of the people released on these dates were women or African Americans, people Ayatollah Khomeini believed already faced "the oppression of American society" ("The Iranian Hostage Crisis"). Another hostage was released on July 11, 1980 when he fell ill; he was later found to be afflicted with multiple sclerosis. The remaining 52 hostages were not released until January 20, 1981, making for a total of 444 days in captivity (“The Hostages and The Casualties").
Conditions
While captured, the hostages had to live under unimaginable circumstances. They were separated into small groups, or even placed into solitary confinement (“Iran Hostage's Diary”). One of the hostages, Malcolm Kalp, was a CIA agent, and the Iranian captors detected this. He was consequently kept in solitary confinement for 374 days. Like other hostages, he was also beaten and harshly punished, though fortunately no hostages lost their lives (“444 days of the Iranian Hostage Crisis and the Aftermath"). Hostages were also often blindfolded and had their hands tied together, as seen in numerous images depicting the crisis. Corporal Steven W. Kirtley, one of the hostages, had his eyes covered, wrists tied, and was forced to stand in front of a gathering of enraged, cheering Iranians (“444 days of the Iranian Hostage Crisis and the Aftermath"). The hostages also had to suffer with the pain of hunger; the students who held them often neglected to feed the hostages, gave them skimpy meals, or ran out of food. They were often down in other supplies as well, and medical knowledge was an area lacking as a whole, which became an issue for hostages with health problems. However perhaps the greatest injustice was not knowing what their future looked like; when would the hostages return home - or would they die in Iran? (“Iran Hostage's Diary”).
On November 4, 1979 Iranian students in support of Ayatollah Khomeini destroyed the gates of the U.S. embassy in Tehran and climbed over the walls ("Iran Hostage Crisis"). There were 90 people in the embassy, six of whom evaded capture and hid at Swedish and Canadian embassies, later fleeing Iran with Canadian passports in 1980. Of the 84 remaining at the embassy, those who were not U.S. citizens were released, leaving 66 people captured. They ranged in age from 22 to 65 and worked a myriad of jobs; one hostage was a private businessman who had the misfortune of being in Iran at the time of the capture, while another hostage was the U.S. Consul General in Tehran (“The Hostages and The Casualties").
Early Releases
Thirteen of the 66 hostages were released from the embassy on November 19 and 20 of 1979, only two weeks after the original capture. All of the people released on these dates were women or African Americans, people Ayatollah Khomeini believed already faced "the oppression of American society" ("The Iranian Hostage Crisis"). Another hostage was released on July 11, 1980 when he fell ill; he was later found to be afflicted with multiple sclerosis. The remaining 52 hostages were not released until January 20, 1981, making for a total of 444 days in captivity (“The Hostages and The Casualties").
Conditions
While captured, the hostages had to live under unimaginable circumstances. They were separated into small groups, or even placed into solitary confinement (“Iran Hostage's Diary”). One of the hostages, Malcolm Kalp, was a CIA agent, and the Iranian captors detected this. He was consequently kept in solitary confinement for 374 days. Like other hostages, he was also beaten and harshly punished, though fortunately no hostages lost their lives (“444 days of the Iranian Hostage Crisis and the Aftermath"). Hostages were also often blindfolded and had their hands tied together, as seen in numerous images depicting the crisis. Corporal Steven W. Kirtley, one of the hostages, had his eyes covered, wrists tied, and was forced to stand in front of a gathering of enraged, cheering Iranians (“444 days of the Iranian Hostage Crisis and the Aftermath"). The hostages also had to suffer with the pain of hunger; the students who held them often neglected to feed the hostages, gave them skimpy meals, or ran out of food. They were often down in other supplies as well, and medical knowledge was an area lacking as a whole, which became an issue for hostages with health problems. However perhaps the greatest injustice was not knowing what their future looked like; when would the hostages return home - or would they die in Iran? (“Iran Hostage's Diary”).
A Fallen Eagle
Faces of the eight servicemen killed in the failed rescue mission (Kamps).
During the time of the crisis, the U.S. tried to use diplomatic and economic measures to free the hostages. For example, the U.S. froze Iran's funds. However, these peaceful attempts proved unsuccesful. Annoyed by the lengthiness of saving the hostages diplomatically, Carter launched operation Eagle Claw in April of 1980. The goal was for a team of highly trained, volunteer servicemen to rescue the hostages. The plan fell apart when a desert sandstorm caused helicopters to break down, and one of the helicopters consequently crashed with a transport plane. Eight of the men on the mission lost their lives, and three were injured ("Iran Hostage Crisis"). Iran took advantage of the horrible situation. Images of the crash were shown on television to reveal America's weaknesses. Iranians even carried bodies of the deceased servicemen through the streets, further mocking the U.S. (“In pictures: Iran hostage crisis").
Coming Home
During the summer of 1980, following the failed rescue mission, negotiations came to a stalemate. The United States and Iran could not come to an agreement on releasing the hostages. American citizens, as throughout the crisis, could not tolerate the injustice inflicted on their nation, and ongoing media coverage of the events fueled their anger. Yellow ribbons were put on homes, demonstrations were held, tapings of jeering mobs in Iran were shown on television, pictures of blindfolded hostages were distributed in newspapers, and the show Nightline on ABC was dedicated to covering the crisis. Alas, in September of 1980, the Iranian government under Ayatollah Khomeini realized that the crisis must come to an end. There were no longer benefits from holding onto the Americans: the anti-Shah argument became invalid after the Shah's death in July, and America's freezing of Iran's assets aided in the breakdown of an already suffering Iranian economy. Americans hoped for an "October Surprise" in which the hostages would be released before the 1980 presidential election, but these plans fell through, and negotiations went on for months. The entire crisis seemed to prove Carter to be a poor leader unable to solve issues at hand, and he lost the 1980 presidential election to Reagan in a landslide ("Iran Hostage Crisis").
FInally, propelled by a number of factors - including the Shah's passing, the U.S. reopening of Iranian funds, and the help of mediators from Algeria - the hostages were released minutes after Ronald Reagan was inaugurated on January 20, 1981 ("The Iranian Hostage Crisis") . They were flown from Iran to a U.S. army base in West Germany, and then brought to Washington, D.C. where they were welcomed home with a parade (“In pictures: Iran hostage crisis"). Some people believe that Reagan's campaign coordinators struck up a deal with the Iranian hostage-holders to wait for the release until after the presidential elections; Reagan staunchly denied this claim ("Iran Hostage Crisis"). Regardless of any controversy, the entire nation could agree that there was no better feeling than having the hostages back on American soil.
Coming Home
During the summer of 1980, following the failed rescue mission, negotiations came to a stalemate. The United States and Iran could not come to an agreement on releasing the hostages. American citizens, as throughout the crisis, could not tolerate the injustice inflicted on their nation, and ongoing media coverage of the events fueled their anger. Yellow ribbons were put on homes, demonstrations were held, tapings of jeering mobs in Iran were shown on television, pictures of blindfolded hostages were distributed in newspapers, and the show Nightline on ABC was dedicated to covering the crisis. Alas, in September of 1980, the Iranian government under Ayatollah Khomeini realized that the crisis must come to an end. There were no longer benefits from holding onto the Americans: the anti-Shah argument became invalid after the Shah's death in July, and America's freezing of Iran's assets aided in the breakdown of an already suffering Iranian economy. Americans hoped for an "October Surprise" in which the hostages would be released before the 1980 presidential election, but these plans fell through, and negotiations went on for months. The entire crisis seemed to prove Carter to be a poor leader unable to solve issues at hand, and he lost the 1980 presidential election to Reagan in a landslide ("Iran Hostage Crisis").
FInally, propelled by a number of factors - including the Shah's passing, the U.S. reopening of Iranian funds, and the help of mediators from Algeria - the hostages were released minutes after Ronald Reagan was inaugurated on January 20, 1981 ("The Iranian Hostage Crisis") . They were flown from Iran to a U.S. army base in West Germany, and then brought to Washington, D.C. where they were welcomed home with a parade (“In pictures: Iran hostage crisis"). Some people believe that Reagan's campaign coordinators struck up a deal with the Iranian hostage-holders to wait for the release until after the presidential elections; Reagan staunchly denied this claim ("Iran Hostage Crisis"). Regardless of any controversy, the entire nation could agree that there was no better feeling than having the hostages back on American soil.