Reverend M. William Howard, Jr.

On the 22nd of December, which was a Saturday, your mother and I had been out grocery shopping. So when we returned, we found the telegram. I read the telegram aloud to her. And it said something like, the Revolutionary Council of Iran is pleased to invite you to conduct Christmas services with the Americans in the U.S. Embassy.

On the 22nd of December, which was a Saturday, your mother and I had been out grocery shopping. So when we returned, we found the telegram. I read the telegram aloud to her. And it said something like, the Revolutionary Council of Iran is pleased to invite you to conduct Christmas services with the Americans in the U.S. Embassy.

On the 22nd of December, which was a Saturday, your mother and I had been out grocery shopping. So when we returned, we found the telegram. I read the telegram aloud to her. And it said something like, the Revolutionary Council of Iran is pleased to invite you to conduct Christmas services with the Americans in the U.S. Embassy.

Well, as you know, I've done some pretty daring things in my younger days. One of the things she often said was, When I was given invitations to go to various places like Syria or Guatemala, she would look at me and say, is this what you think you need to do?

Well, as you know, I've done some pretty daring things in my younger days. One of the things she often said was, When I was given invitations to go to various places like Syria or Guatemala, she would look at me and say, is this what you think you need to do?

Well, as you know, I've done some pretty daring things in my younger days. One of the things she often said was, When I was given invitations to go to various places like Syria or Guatemala, she would look at me and say, is this what you think you need to do?

Shortly after I received the telegram, it came on the news that American clergy had been invited. And they mentioned that William Sloan Coffin, who was leader of the Riverside Church in New York, and Bishop Thomas Gumbleton of the Roman Church were going to also go.

Shortly after I received the telegram, it came on the news that American clergy had been invited. And they mentioned that William Sloan Coffin, who was leader of the Riverside Church in New York, and Bishop Thomas Gumbleton of the Roman Church were going to also go.

Shortly after I received the telegram, it came on the news that American clergy had been invited. And they mentioned that William Sloan Coffin, who was leader of the Riverside Church in New York, and Bishop Thomas Gumbleton of the Roman Church were going to also go.

At Riverside in New York, we met and we thought about the implications of this. We began to call around and speak with people who could give us some kind of orientation. We talked with then Secretary of State Cyrus Vance.

At Riverside in New York, we met and we thought about the implications of this. We began to call around and speak with people who could give us some kind of orientation. We talked with then Secretary of State Cyrus Vance.

At Riverside in New York, we met and we thought about the implications of this. We began to call around and speak with people who could give us some kind of orientation. We talked with then Secretary of State Cyrus Vance.

Frankly, they were delighted that we had been invited because up to this time, No American had been allowed to see the Americans that were in captivity there at the embassy. So, of course, there was a lot of speculation, but no one had actually seen them. So we were in no way discouraged from doing this.

Frankly, they were delighted that we had been invited because up to this time, No American had been allowed to see the Americans that were in captivity there at the embassy. So, of course, there was a lot of speculation, but no one had actually seen them. So we were in no way discouraged from doing this.

Frankly, they were delighted that we had been invited because up to this time, No American had been allowed to see the Americans that were in captivity there at the embassy. So, of course, there was a lot of speculation, but no one had actually seen them. So we were in no way discouraged from doing this.

It never really occurred to me, and this was a striking question, a surprising question I received from many people who presumed that there was a level of risk that we might be taken hostage.

It never really occurred to me, and this was a striking question, a surprising question I received from many people who presumed that there was a level of risk that we might be taken hostage.

It never really occurred to me, and this was a striking question, a surprising question I received from many people who presumed that there was a level of risk that we might be taken hostage.

No, I don't think either of us who traveled to Iran had that feeling. Why? Number one, we'd been invited. And number two, from the beginning, there was a sense of genuine respect for the religious heritage Of the hostages. Unitary. I mean, there were people there who were orthodox. There were non-believers. But there was a presumption that they were Christian.

No, I don't think either of us who traveled to Iran had that feeling. Why? Number one, we'd been invited. And number two, from the beginning, there was a sense of genuine respect for the religious heritage Of the hostages. Unitary. I mean, there were people there who were orthodox. There were non-believers. But there was a presumption that they were Christian.