Adam Howard

My father, Reverend M. William Howard, Jr., received an invitation to Iran by telegram, along with another Protestant minister and the Catholic bishop of Detroit. That was December 22nd. Just two days later, Christmas Eve, the three clergymen were ushered into the embassy to meet the hostages.

How did they take that?

How did they take that?

How did they take that?

That's a test if you're really an American.

That's a test if you're really an American.

That's a test if you're really an American.

Now, when he said this, had he given you and your colleagues any warning that he was going to do this? Did you think this is completely crazy what he's doing and dangerous?

Now, when he said this, had he given you and your colleagues any warning that he was going to do this? Did you think this is completely crazy what he's doing and dangerous?

Now, when he said this, had he given you and your colleagues any warning that he was going to do this? Did you think this is completely crazy what he's doing and dangerous?

Did you get a sense that anybody was trying to, I hate to use the word indoctrinate because that's so loaded, but trying to get you to be persuaded as to either the message of the captors or some other alternative perspective about what was going on to bring back to the United States?

Did you get a sense that anybody was trying to, I hate to use the word indoctrinate because that's so loaded, but trying to get you to be persuaded as to either the message of the captors or some other alternative perspective about what was going on to bring back to the United States?

Did you get a sense that anybody was trying to, I hate to use the word indoctrinate because that's so loaded, but trying to get you to be persuaded as to either the message of the captors or some other alternative perspective about what was going on to bring back to the United States?

And I'm sure he maybe would have used it for propaganda purposes.

And I'm sure he maybe would have used it for propaganda purposes.

And I'm sure he maybe would have used it for propaganda purposes.

So speaking of American television, when you came back, obviously there was quite a lot of press coverage, quite infamously in our family memories. You appeared on the Donahue show. What are your memories of that in terms of what the reception was when you came back? It was virtually every major outlet.

So speaking of American television, when you came back, obviously there was quite a lot of press coverage, quite infamously in our family memories. You appeared on the Donahue show. What are your memories of that in terms of what the reception was when you came back? It was virtually every major outlet.

So speaking of American television, when you came back, obviously there was quite a lot of press coverage, quite infamously in our family memories. You appeared on the Donahue show. What are your memories of that in terms of what the reception was when you came back? It was virtually every major outlet.

I wonder, when you reflect back on this, what do you think about what took place and did this experience in any way change your perspective on the holiday of Christmas?