Page 1 of 6
Date
Days In
Nov 15, 1977
Event
[Photo] The Shah of Iran, Jimmy Carter, the Shahbanou of
Iran and Rosalynn Carter Participate in a Formal Pose During
a State Dinner, 11/15/77, Jimmy Carter Library
[ARC#176872]
The Shah visits the White House and gives a tapestry of George
Washington to the Carters as a gift. Carter was the 8th U. S.
President the Shah had known.
Sept 7, 1978
The Shah declares marshal law throughout Iran, following which
there is a bloody confrontation between police and protesting
Muslims. Several hundred people were killed and after this
incident and as a result… THE STRENGTH OF THE
DEMONSTRATORS GREW AS THEY DEMANDED THE
SHAH’S ABDICATION (Carter, 438)
Jan 16, 1979
The Shah flees Iran in exile
Feb 1, 1979
The Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini returned to Iran from Paris,
where he had been in exile for 14 years.
Oct 20, 1979
T-16
The decision is made to admit the Shah to the U. S. for medical
treatment.
Oct 22, 1979
T-14
The Shah arrives in New York and is admitted to New York
Hospital-Cornell Medical Center to be treated for cancer and
gallstones (Brinkley, 10)
According to Carter, “Cy reported to me on October 22: ‘The
Iranian Government reacted with moderation when informed by us
that the Shah will visit the United States for medical reasons. We
have told them that neither the Shah nor the Shahbanou [Empress
Farah]… will engage in political activity.” (Carter, 456)
Oct 31, 1979
T-5
[Memo] David Aaron to Jimmy Carter re Iran
Demonstrations, 10/31/79, Jimmy Carter Library
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Written 5 days before the embassy is overrun, the memo reflects
concern for an upcoming religious holiday/political demonstration
to protest U.S. policy and Shah’s presence in NYC.
While noting that a rally and march are supposed to end at some
distance from the embassy, Aaron also writes “but the chances of
demonstrations or an attack there are considerable.”
Aaron notes that contingency plans are in place for this, and that
“The security of the building has been greatly reinforced since
February and is nearly impregnable short of a heavy weapons
attack. The Iranian police have promised to provide security for
the compound.”
NOV 4, 1979
Day 1
The U.S. Embassy in Iran is overrun by 3,000 militants. They
take 66 Americans captive (3 of them 66 fr the Iranian Foreign
Ministry). 6 more Americans escaped. Of the 66 taken hostage,
13 were released on Nov. 19th and 20th; one was released on
July 11, 1980, and the remaining 52 were released on Jan 20,
1981. The hostages ranged in age from 21 to 65 years old, came
from 26 states, and varied in occupation from Marine guards,
to a Private businessman, to an embassy cultural officer.
Nov 5, 1979
Day 2
[Letter] American Foreign Service Association to Jimmy
Carter re Hostage Safety, 11/5/79, Jimmy Carter Library
Kenneth Bleakely(?), President, American Foreign Service
Association(?), writes Carter noting that the AFSA “wished to
emphasize that the protection of the lives and safety of the
individual Americans involved must remain the paramount
concern of the United States Government.”
Carter’s approach to the crisis suggests that he either adopted or
wholeheartedly agreed with the AFSA about the primacy of
hostage safety from the very beginning of the crisis.
Nov 6, 1979
Day 3
[Letter] Jimmy Carter to Ayatollah Khomeini re the Release of
the Iranian Hostages, 11/6/79, Jimmy Carter Library
[ARC#593939]
Delivered by Ramsey Clark(?) and William G. Miller, the letter
asks that the Ayatollah “release unharmed all Americans presently
detained in Iran and those held with them…”
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Carter states “I ask you to recognize the compelling humanitarian
reasons, firmly based in international law, for doing so.”
Carter also assembled a team and commenced plans for a
possible rescue mission on this day (Carter, 459)
Nov 8, 1979
Day 5
[Memo] Beckel(?) to Jordan(?) re Congressional Reaction to
U. S. Iranian Students Protests, 11/8/79, Jimmy Carter
Library
After having briefed 200 members of the House on the Iranian
situation Jordan brought several observations to Beckel’s attention:
1. “There is an extraordinary amount of hostility running
through the Congress toward the Iranian students in the
United States – from left to right, Democrat to
Republican.” Also, “we are encouraged almost
unanimously to stop all demonstrations by Iranian students
and to use our influence with local governments to refuse
permits across the country.”
2.
“Tom Harkin on the left and Bob Dornan on the right have
joined forces to call for the ouster of the Shah.”
Nov 9, 1979
Day 6
Carter walks over to the State Department to meet with the
hostages’ families
Nov 11, 1979
Day 8
Carter embargoes Iranian oil
Nov 13, 1979
Day 10
[Letter] Jimmy Carter to Rita Ode re Hostage Safety, 11/13/79,
Jimmy Carter Library
Carter tells Mrs. Ode, “When others might call for unhelpful
measures, you have understood that all of us must follow a
determined course of responsible behavior.” He also tells her, “Our
utmost concern will continue to be the safety of each of those you
love.”
Nov 14, 1979
Day 11
[Executive Order] Executive Order Blocking Iranian
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Government Property, 11/14/79, Jimmy Carter Library
He does so citing the powers vested in him via the U.S.
Constitution, the International Emergency Economic Powers Act,
and the National Emergencies act.
The E.O. states that “the situation in Iran constitutes an unusual
and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy and
economy of the United States…”
Carter blocked delivery of $300 million dollars in military items to
Iran.
Nov 17, 1979
Day 14
Khomeini announced that the Iranians would release 13 women
and blacks “who were not spies” because women and minorities
already suffered “the oppression of American society.” With that
said, two women and one African-American did remain among the
53 hostages left.
The Carter administration reaction to this? “Mixed emotions.”
Carter: “We had sent strong warnings that the trial or punishment
of any hostage would bring serious consequences, involving
military action, so we viewed this release of thirteen of the
hostages with mixed emotions.”
Nov 19 & 20
Days 377 13 women and African-Americans among those seized at the
embassy are released.
Apr 1, 1980
Day 151
Bani-Sadr(?) announces that control over American hostages will
be transferred to the Iranian government (not carried out)
Apr 7, 1980
Day 157
President Carter makes an announcement about Iran, addresses
Congress, and issues an executive order. He announces punitive
measures against Iran such as breaking diplomatic relations with
their government, closing down the Iranian embassy and
consulate, issuing sanctions against U. S. imports to Iran, and
using the already-frozen Iranian assets being held in U. S. banks to
pay out damage claims to the hostages’ family members.
“The Unites States has used every diplomatic and legal means
Page 5 of 6
available to it to end this extraordinary threat, but without avail.” ~
JC
Deportation proceedings were started on Iranian students illegally
in the U. S. He ordered all Iranian oil imports suspended. Iran, in
response, decided to withdraw billions in U. S. banks. Carter
countered by freezing ALL Iranian assets held in U. S. banks.
Apr 11, 1980
Day 161
The decision is made to proceed with Operation Eagle Claw, the
hostage rescue mission
Apr 21, 1980
Day 171
Cyrus Vance(?) submits his resignation over his disagreement with
the soundness of the decision to attempt a rescue
Apr 24, 1980
Day 174
Operation Eagle Claw fails and 8 U. S. servicemen from the allvolunteer Joint Special Operations Group were killed in the Great
Salt Desert near Tabas, Iran.
Apr 25 >
Carter addresses the nation via tv and takes responsibility for the
mission’s failure. Footage of this can be found easily on the world
wide web. Speaking to the timing of the rescue attempt, President
Carter said “This rescue attempt had to await my judgment that the
Iranian authorities could not or would not resolve this crisis on
their own initiative.”
Secretary Brown holds a news conference during which he goes
into great detail about the logistics of the failed rescue attempt.
Apr 28, 1980
Day 178
Carter accepts Vance’s resignation…
June 1980
The Shah dies, opening the door for a negotiated settlement
between the U. S. and Iran for release of the hostages that
wouldn’t come until mid January of 1981.
July 11, 1980
One hostage, Richard Queen of NY, NY, was freed because of an
illness later diagnosed as multiple sclerosis.
Sept 22, 1980
Iraq invades Iran and Khomeini realizes his nation couldn’t take
on 2 powerful enemies at once (Brinkley, 11).
Page 6 of 6
Jan 18, 1981
Day 411
Iran offers to release the hostages in return for $2.5 billion in
Iranian assets held by the Federal Reserve, along with $5.5 billion
in Iranian assets held in U. S. banks in Europe.
Nov 4, 1980
Day 367
The One-Year Anniversary of the hostage crisis. Ronald
Reagan defeats Jimmy Carter in a landslide this election day.
Dec 1980
The Iranian government demanded that the U.S. deposit a $24
billion “ransom” for the hostages in an Algerian bank. Carter
refused to bend to extortion (Brinkley, 34)
Jan 16, 1981
Day 440
Carter negotiates final terms for release of American hostages
Jan 20, 1981
Day 444
Ronald Reagan is sworn in as 40th president, and the hostages are
released
Jan 21, 1981
Day 445
[Photo] Jimmy Carter Welcomes Hostages in Germany,
1/21/81, nlc21211.36, Jimmy Carter Library
Carter meets hostages in Wiesbaden, Germany
[Speech] Text of Remarks by President Carter to the Liberated
Americans, 1/21/81, Jimmy Carter Library
VIDEO
President Carter discusses his options regarding the Iranian
hostages
8 minutes
http://www.presidentialtimeline.org/html/educators/video/carter.m
ov