Peter Baker

Sadat later called him the unknown soldier of the peacemaking effort. And Begin agreed, he says, that Carter would be, quote, remembered and recorded by generations to come.

And it is, in fact, this singular accomplishment that is probably the one most lasting, enduring, and triumphal moment of the Carter presidency.

And it is, in fact, this singular accomplishment that is probably the one most lasting, enduring, and triumphal moment of the Carter presidency.

Yeah, just as defining, but not at all triumphant. In fact, this really is the moment that leads to the end of Carter's presidency, and that's the Iran hostage crisis.

Yeah, just as defining, but not at all triumphant. In fact, this really is the moment that leads to the end of Carter's presidency, and that's the Iran hostage crisis.

In 1979 in Iran, Muslim clerics lead a revolution that overthrows the leader of the secular government there. That's the Shah of Iran, who'd been a close ally of the United States. And after the Shah was overthrown and left the country, he became sick and needed medical care. And as a U.S. ally, wanted to come to the United States for help. There was a ton of pressure on Carter to let him in.

In 1979 in Iran, Muslim clerics lead a revolution that overthrows the leader of the secular government there. That's the Shah of Iran, who'd been a close ally of the United States. And after the Shah was overthrown and left the country, he became sick and needed medical care. And as a U.S. ally, wanted to come to the United States for help. There was a ton of pressure on Carter to let him in.

But you had people like Henry Kissinger and David Rockefeller, they're all pushing Carter, let him in, let him in, it's the right thing to do for an ally. But Carter knew how risky this was, and maybe in a way almost nobody else did. He told his aides that he feared it would lead to violence against American diplomats in Iran. And why did he fear that?

But you had people like Henry Kissinger and David Rockefeller, they're all pushing Carter, let him in, let him in, it's the right thing to do for an ally. But Carter knew how risky this was, and maybe in a way almost nobody else did. He told his aides that he feared it would lead to violence against American diplomats in Iran. And why did he fear that?

Well, he had seen what had happened in an earlier stage of the uprising that had led to a short-lived siege of the embassy in Tehran. It didn't last long, and there were only a few casualties, but he saw the potential for violence there, and he realized that if the Shah came, the United States would be so offensive to this newly ascendant crowd in Tehran that it would put the embassy in danger.

Well, he had seen what had happened in an earlier stage of the uprising that had led to a short-lived siege of the embassy in Tehran. It didn't last long, and there were only a few casualties, but he saw the potential for violence there, and he realized that if the Shah came, the United States would be so offensive to this newly ascendant crowd in Tehran that it would put the embassy in danger.

But given the pressure on him from the Shah's American allies from within and outside the government, Carter invites him to the U.S. anyway.

But given the pressure on him from the Shah's American allies from within and outside the government, Carter invites him to the U.S. anyway.

Militants in Tehran storm the U.S. embassy and hold scores of U.S. government workers there hostage, demanding that the Shah be returned to Iran to stand trial.

Militants in Tehran storm the U.S. embassy and hold scores of U.S. government workers there hostage, demanding that the Shah be returned to Iran to stand trial.

Carter refuses to send the Shah back to Iran, and the militants refuse to release these hostages. And it becomes this incredible standoff, really, of a generation, an enormous story heard around the world.

Carter refuses to send the Shah back to Iran, and the militants refuse to release these hostages. And it becomes this incredible standoff, really, of a generation, an enormous story heard around the world.

It's on round-the-clock TV coverage. Families of the employees are on television pleading for the release. Americans are tying yellow ribbons around trees in front of their houses. It's an all-consuming story for much of America.

It's on round-the-clock TV coverage. Families of the employees are on television pleading for the release. Americans are tying yellow ribbons around trees in front of their houses. It's an all-consuming story for much of America.

Every night you had the anchors saying, day 138 of the hostage crisis, day 420 of the hostage crisis. And it really just consumed the country and it consumed Carter's presidency. How does it consume Carter's presidency? Well, you know, he had a choice of putting this to the side or at least making it one issue of many.