444 Days

On August 19, 1953, the democratically elected Iranian Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh's government was overthrown and replaced by the monarchical rule of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.  The coup was actively supported by the United States (President Eisenhower) in order to protect its oil interests in Iran.    

On January 16, 1979, after months of civil unrest, the Shah left Iran (for Egypt), never to return.  Sixteen days later, Ayatollah Khomeini arrived in Iran (from France) after about fourteen years of exile (mostly in Iraq).  Almost immediately, he became the unelected leader of the new theocratic government of Iran.  On October 22, 1979, the Shah entered the United States to receive treatment for cancer.

On November 4, 1979, with the support of Khomeini, about 500 Iranian "students" climbed over the walls of the United States Embassy compound in Tehran and took 66 American diplomats and citizens hostage.  Thirteen days later, Khomeini ordered the release of 8 African-American male hostages and all 5 of the female hostages, leaving 53 remaining.  The Iranian government demanded the Shah's extradition in return for the hostages.  The US (President Carter) refused.

On January 27, 1980, 6 American diplomats that had avoided the initial takeover of the US embassy and had been secretly hiding in the Canadian Embassy escaped Iran.  A joint American-Canadian operation was able to sneak them out of the country via a Swissair flight to Zurich.  A fictionalized version of these events was the basis for the 2012 film, Argo, which won three Academy Awards, including Best Picture.  It was produced by, directed by and starred Ben Affleck.   

On April 24, 1980, a rescue effort ordered by President Carter failed when two American military helicopters collided inside Iran, killing eight American soldiers.  

Because of ill health, another hostage was released on July 11, 1980, leaving 52 in captivity.

On July 27, 1980, the Shah died while in Egypt receiving medical care.  Then Iran demanded the US government hand over the Shah's assets in the US to gain the freedom of the hostages.  

On January 19, 1981, US (President Carter) and Iranian governments signed an agreement in which Iran would release all remaining hostages in exchange for the US unfreezing Iranian government assets in US banks, estimated to be worth $8 billion dollars.  The following day, January 20, 1981, 37 years ago yesterday, Ronald Reagan was inaugurated as the President of the United States.  The 52 hostages were actually released a mere 20 minutes after Reagan assumed the presidency.  They were held for 444 days.

During their captivity, the American hostages were subjected to "beatings, death threats, life without sunlight, isolation, hunger, filth, petty cruelties, and psychological torture." 

Was it a coincidence that the release of the hostages came on the day of Reagan's inauguration, a man perceived as being a strong leader?  Or was it a coincidence that the hostages were released on the day after Carter was no longer president, the man perceived as being responsible for permitting the Shah to escape punishment in Iran?