November 4, 1979 - Day 1
Iranian students storm the United States Embassy and take the entire staff hostage. The students demand the extradition of the deposed Shah of Iran, who is in New York receiving cancer treatment.

Newsfootage: Reuters (QuickTime or RealVideo required) read transcript

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The lines have just been jammed. Calls are stacked up. As soon as you hang up there's another call. Most are mad, some say that they want military action to free the hostages, others approve of the diplomatic route being taken. And some are calling that have never contacted their senators before.

Birmingham Post-Herald
an unnamed staffer of Alabama Senator Howell Heflin, quoted in "Alabamians Voice Feelings on Iran"

This is a copy of a message sent to President Carter on the American Hostages in Iran: The safety and well being of American citizens comes first, whether at home or abroad. Americans know that our self respect and safety are even more important than fighting inflation or how much oil we import. Sometimes we must turn the other cheek, but never when it causes American lives to be put in jeopardy. We strongly urge you, Mr. President, to take firm positive action to protect Americans -- just as in the old days.

Denver Post
Mr. & Mrs. Paul S. Litman, Letter to the Editor

Carter's predecessor, whom he says he emulates -- Harry Truman -- would have landed the Marines and offered to cripple Iran's economic base. These Iranians have committed an act of war against the United States and all Carter wants to do at the moment is talk. It is time to speak with the power and the might of a first rate country instead of the wishy-washy language of diplomatic compromise.

Denver Post
Daniel A. Darlington, Letter to the Editor

We'd probably gain more by letting [the Shah] go than to fight it out. I've always wondered why we should shelter him anyway. It's not very much of the United States' business (what happens to the Shah).

Tampa Tribune
Alex Salazar, quoted in "Surveyed Tampans Would Not Yield to Iranian Demands"

Not one drop of Iranian oil is worth any appeasement on the part of our government.

San Francisco Examiner
Virginia Howard, Letter to the Editor

We are urging Americans not to demonstrate, to realize that their protests are endangering the life of my father and the other hostages.

San Francisco Examiner
Alyssa Keough, daughter of a hostage, quoted in "Hostage Kin: 'Keep cool'"

The recent crisis in Iran has produced mixed reactions in the United States. These have ranged in tone from conciliatory to violent. There is, however, a curious characteristic which is common to many of these otherwise diverse factions: a newly discovered sense of patriotism.

Minneapolis Tribune
James A. Booker, Letter to the Editor

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