I don't know about Carter, but Jesse Jackson always walks out with the hostage. I may not agree with his politics, but he is successful at getting hostages released. Unindicted practioner of private foreign policy? I don't think so. He probably just keeps talking at them, until the hostage holder can't take it any more. If I could talk someone into releasing an American hostage, I'd do it. I wouldn't care what anyone called me.