Peter Baker

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.

But instead, he chose to cancel speeches out of town, to cancel campaign events. He made this the number one priority of his presidency. And these same qualities we're talking about, the sort of stubborn, single-minded determination that we saw at Camp David that worked well for him there—

But instead, he chose to cancel speeches out of town, to cancel campaign events. He made this the number one priority of his presidency. And these same qualities we're talking about, the sort of stubborn, single-minded determination that we saw at Camp David that worked well for him there—

really kind of works against him here because he wants to solve this problem and he's going to do nothing but focus on it, no matter what else is happening, basically. And that becomes, in effect, the sine qua non test of his presidency. If he can solve this, then he is successful. If he can't solve it, that means he's not. And he inadvertently creates the metric by which he's going to be judged.

really kind of works against him here because he wants to solve this problem and he's going to do nothing but focus on it, no matter what else is happening, basically. And that becomes, in effect, the sine qua non test of his presidency. If he can solve this, then he is successful. If he can't solve it, that means he's not. And he inadvertently creates the metric by which he's going to be judged.

He took it very personally. He felt responsible for these diplomats who, in fact, work for him, right? He's the president of the United States. And they were there in trouble in some ways because of a decision he made to let the Shah in. So he took it very personally. And it's a little like... The malaise speech in the sense that he can't help himself but to communicate that to the public, right?

He took it very personally. He felt responsible for these diplomats who, in fact, work for him, right? He's the president of the United States. And they were there in trouble in some ways because of a decision he made to let the Shah in. So he took it very personally. And it's a little like... The malaise speech in the sense that he can't help himself but to communicate that to the public, right?

He's communicating what he thinks and feels in a way that most presidents might not. Most presidents might try to focus on other things so as not to elevate this particular crisis among the many he had to deal with. But that wasn't Carter's way. He always wants to be, you know, transparent with the country about what he's thinking, what he's feeling.

He's communicating what he thinks and feels in a way that most presidents might not. Most presidents might try to focus on other things so as not to elevate this particular crisis among the many he had to deal with. But that wasn't Carter's way. He always wants to be, you know, transparent with the country about what he's thinking, what he's feeling.

He wears his worry in a very big public way. It's a good way to put it. And therefore, the country worries with him. And instead of being able to sort of judge it among the many different priorities that a president has, it becomes the singular focus of not just the president, but the country as a whole.

He wears his worry in a very big public way. It's a good way to put it. And therefore, the country worries with him. And instead of being able to sort of judge it among the many different priorities that a president has, it becomes the singular focus of not just the president, but the country as a whole.

And in effect, what he tries is what he did at Camp David, which is that if he simply puts enough determination into it, he feels, he can solve the problem.

And in effect, what he tries is what he did at Camp David, which is that if he simply puts enough determination into it, he feels, he can solve the problem.

He engages on this sort of marathon diplomatic negotiation through intermediaries, other countries, anything he can find to try to, you know, obtain the release of these hostages. That goes nowhere. The Iranians are not willing to budge. They're not willing to make the deal that he wants them to make. And he finds himself frustrated.

He engages on this sort of marathon diplomatic negotiation through intermediaries, other countries, anything he can find to try to, you know, obtain the release of these hostages. That goes nowhere. The Iranians are not willing to budge. They're not willing to make the deal that he wants them to make. And he finds himself frustrated.

frustrated time after time without any great success to show for it. And so five months into the crisis, he then finally turns to the military and he says, okay, it's your turn. And he sends in a mission meant to rescue the hostages from the embassy in the middle of a big urban city. Big challenge, really hard idea.

frustrated time after time without any great success to show for it. And so five months into the crisis, he then finally turns to the military and he says, okay, it's your turn. And he sends in a mission meant to rescue the hostages from the embassy in the middle of a big urban city. Big challenge, really hard idea.

They miscalculate the number of helicopters they need, the number of American military personnel are killed, and instead of this dramatic rescue of Americans from Tehran, you have this enormous embarrassment on the international stage, a failed military rescue operation that leaves Carter in a worse position than he was even before.

They miscalculate the number of helicopters they need, the number of American military personnel are killed, and instead of this dramatic rescue of Americans from Tehran, you have this enormous embarrassment on the international stage, a failed military rescue operation that leaves Carter in a worse position than he was even before.

It's a complete political disaster. The secretary of state resigns, says he never thought that was a good idea in the first place. People question his effectiveness as a commander in chief. He looks weak and people begin to lose faith in him. And so, you know, the crisis just continues to go on and on for day after day, week after week, month after month. 1979 drags into 1980.