WHERE WERE YOU? 22 YEARS AGO TODAY: RONALD REAGAN BECOMES PRESIDENT, IRANIAN HOSTAGES RELEASED!

FREEPers Everywhere! ^

[Recovering_Democrat]

Hard to believe: 22 years ago today, Jimmy Carter finally had to let go of his miserable Presidency, and the Golden Era of Reagan began. Iran's fundamentalist islamists, knowing they would be turned into ash if they kept up their illegal behavior, released the 52 Americans they'd held for 444 days.

Where were you on this glorious day?

[scottinoc]

I was only a high school kid, but I'll never forget the incredulous look on Reagan's face when they asked him "will you negotiate with the hostage takers", days before the release. It was like "What the he!! are you talking about? No!" An early civics lesson taught by the best.

[Slyfox]

I was fresh out of college and thought about my acquaintences in college who were really upset that the Equal Rights Ammendment might go down the tubes for good because of Reagan. It did. And I remember that shortly after his inauguration I had a patriotic breath of fresh air. It was cool to once again put my hand on my heart during the National Anthem.

Ronald Reagan will live forever in the hearts of good and decent people.

[carton253]

I was home getting ready to go the satelite inaugural ball held for those who worked on Reagan's campaign. That meant me because I was a Reaganette... corny, but gave me the opportunity to meet and talk to RR himself. He was delightful.

[Slyfox]

[Slyfox]

[SamAdams76]

I remember that day crystal clear. I was an 18-year-old Marine recruit and two weeks away from reporting to boot camp at Parris Island, SC.

I remember watching the inaugural on TV with the split-screen of the hostages coming home. (I think they were actually headed to Weisbaden, Germany.) At the time, I was politically naive and didn't realize the significance of the event at the time. But I remember Jimmy Carter looking pretty pathetic and I was glad to see that he was on his way back to Plains, Ga.

All I can say is that those Iranians must have figured that Reagan had something planned for them. They got plenty of mileage out of the hostage situation but realized that they better get out of the game while they were still ahead.

[Jennifer in Florida]

I was in third grade! I recently found a picture that I drew of a TV with lots happy people and "the hostages are free, yay!" written on it. My mom saved it :) My dad worked for FEMA in NYC back then and he took me to work with him the day they had the ticker tape parade for them a few days or weeks later. I remember that pretty vividly.

[ezo4]

Jeeez... It was my first year of high school.

[DeathfromBelow]

Teaching Leadership to Navy Instructors at NAS Memphis, Millington, Just promoted to E-7. Younger brother was on the Big "E" off the coast of IRAN.

Master Chief Petty Officer Submarines Retired.

[JackelopeBreeder]

Livin' large at Camp Humphreys, Korea.

[nina0113]

On the North Lawn of the Capitol, watching the greatest President of the twentieth century being sworn in.

I was dating someone who did some work for the Inaugural Committee & they gave him tickets. I had voted for Reagan, but mostly as a vote against Carter (I was bitterly disappointed not to be old enough to vote against Carter in 76, & could hardly wait for 80 to have the chance).

I'll never forget the thrill of hearing that the hostages had been released.

[usslsm51]

Ft. Myers, VA, We just moved to the DC Area.

[Denver Ditdat]

AN/APS-116 Radar school, NAS North Island, San Diego. The 1980 election was the first in which I was eligible to vote, and I cast my ballot proudly for Mr. Reagan.

[Denver Ditdat]

Strapped into a A-6E Intruder with a full load of weapons, parked on Cat 2 of USS INDEPENDENCE

I was aboard the Indy two years later with VS-28. Small world!

[twigs]

Yes, now that you mention it, it was very cold! The main thing I remember is hearing people around me talking about the "rumor" that the hostages were going to be released. But for the life of me, I cannot remember who announced it. Was that Reagan himself?

[rintense]

I was in my elementary classroom, and they wheeled in a televison to show us the hostages being released. I remember telling the teacher, 'They are being released because they are afraid of our new President.'

God, I miss my Grandpa. He was a die hard Republican and helped shape my views early on.

[AmericanInTokyo]

Reagan did not announce it if memory serves me correct, but it is my understanding that either there was a statement within the proceedings that this was to occur, and for sure, I had heard on the radio at about 12:03 or so that they were clearing Iranian airspace.

[AmericanInTokyo]

[AmericanInTokyo]

Not to mention the fun FOUR YEARS LATER!

[twigs]

I think maybe it was announced in the proceedings. My guess is that since a lot of people had radios with them, they talked about what they heard--about clearing Iranian airspace. That's probably the reason a lot of people were talking about it and I overheard it. I just remember a sense of electricity running through the crowd.