dear Pgh,
re: “Reagan did what, against Iran? I don’t recall him doing anything.”
The year was 1980, just prior to the inauguration of the newly elected U.S. President, Ronald Reagan. In Iran, there were American Embassy personnel held hostage for over a year, since the Iranian Red Guard overran that embassy, after deposing the regime of The Shah of Iran.
During the time of the outgoing President, Jimmy Carter, the U.S. was perceived as having no balls, to include failed military rescue operations of these personnel.
Ronald Reagan was perceived as taking no crap, and one to be wary of.
So, in the first 24-hour period AFTER Reagan was inaugurated, the Iranians started negotiations to release those personnel, quickly.
The Iranians released the American hostages just before Reagan was inaugurated at noon on January 20, 1981.