The 444-day Iran hostage crisis that undid Jimmy Carter's presidency

ABC(Australia) ^ | 12/29/24 | Sarah Motherwell

[DallasBiff]

History has been kind to Jimmy Carter in a way the present never was during his one term as US president.

His four years were dogged by economic "stagflation", which began during the term of his predecessor Richard Nixon, and America's stumbles on foreign policy.

The surprise 1980 landslide loss to Ronald Reagan was deemed a referendum on Carter's leadership.

Voters had daily reminders that their commander in chief was unable to free the dozens of Americans held captive in an embassy in the Iranian capital, Tehran.

[MinorityRepublican]

You had secularists in Assad's Syria. I'm sure the dynamics were similar in Iran when the Shah was in charge. But the Shah was very corrupt. Similar to Assad.

Of course Khomeini was an Islamist fanatic. But he was extremely popular when he overthrew the Shah.

[hoosierham]

Yes. Jimmy Cahtuh was a wolf in sheepsheep clothing. His claimed Baptist belief and smile fooled many voters.
The media promotes the destruction of America .

[plain talk]

The problem is the hostage crisis should have never happened in the first place. If Reagan had been President in the late 70’s I doubt it would have played out like it did.

[ansel12]

“””55 mph speed limit.”””

That was President Ford.

“The National Maximum Speed Limit (NMSL) was a provision of the federal government of the United States 1974 Emergency Highway Energy Conservation Act that effectively prohibited speed limits higher than 55 miles per hour (89 km/h).”

[cowboyusa]

FDR WOULD be 2nd worst BUT he was a GREAT War President.

[cowboyusa]

Tied for worst.

[dayglored]

> It was only that Iran was scared of Reagan that they were finally released.

In Jan 1980 there was a great political cartoon that showed the Ayatollah and one of his advisors talking:

Advisor: Ayatollah, I have a joke for you. What is flat and glows?
Ayatollah: I don't know. What?
Advisor: Iran, after January 20th.
Ayatollah: I don't get it.
Advisor: There are many of us who wish you would.

[dayglored]

Oops, should be “In Jan 1981...”

[Night Hides Not]

Thanks for the correction.. .the drive still sucked. I contrast that to driving I-20 to El Paso. The speed limit is 85 in the Pecos area. I thanked Reagan for that.

[ansel12]

You aren’t the only one, just about all of us and everyone in America associates the 55mph with Carter, it is a surprise to learn different.

[Night Hides Not]

Shortly after Inauguration Day 2021, I was invited to sit at the Stammtisch of the local gasthaus. When the hostages were released, Reagan proved he was the better choice over Carter. My neighbors had pleaded with me to vote for Carter, as they were convinced that Reagan would start WW3.

I was in my 4th year in Germany and spoke the language well enough to engage them in their language. My main argument was that the world is a safer place when America is strong, and Reagan was better suited to that.

Kind of rings true after 44 years.