It was the worst period in Carter's presidency. He later described it as: "a time of great stress for me and that's while the hostages were being held—when I was obsessed with preserving their lives and bringing them back home safely."

But Carter refused to give in to the terrorists' demands. "This nation will never yield to blackmail," he said. "But we will not rest nor deviate from our efforts until all have been freed from their imprisonment and their abuse."

As the months went by, Robert Ode continued to chronicle events in his diary: "Today we begin the tenth month of our captivity—and still there is nothing doing that makes me feel that we will get out of here soon. I just can't understand what our government is doing to obtain our release. It's very, very discouraging!"

The crisis in the Middle East led to an oil shortage in the United States, and to high inflation. And despite his efforts during 443 days, Jimmy Carter was unable to obtain the release of the hostages.

On the 444th day—the very day that Ronald Reagan was inaugurated President, January 20, 1981—the fifty-two hostages were finally released. President Reagan made the exciting announcement. "Some thirty minutes ago, the planes bearing our prisoners left Iranian airspace and are now freed of Iran." Aboard plane, Robert Ode described the feelings of the hostages: "The voice came over the plane's speaker: 'You are now leaving Iranian air space!' What a cheer went up from the American hostages. Now we knew we were really free! We were going home!"