Page 39 - 1980
P. 39
National Events, Issues
by Cheryl Workman
Demand of Shah
i
strains emotions
n November 4, 1979, Those who had expired or
OIslamic students took invalid visas were deported.
over the U.S. Embassy in The Carter administration
Tehran, Iran. There were 62 planned to unite the world
Americans held hostage. against Iran, and to divide
The militants demanded an Iran against itself.
exchange: the hostages for During the original confu
Iran’s Shah. sion, six Americans had
“ You have taken our mur escaped to the Canadian Angry Iranian* burn an American flag to protest the U S. dealings with the former Shah of Iran
derer and given him asylum. Embassy in Iran, where they
Give him back to us,” remained in hiding for six ‘79ers strike it wealthy
argued the Iranians. weeks. They were returned
Hit Mohammed Reza Pahlavi, safely by the plan of a Cana
I the exiled Shah, was dian ambassador. W hen gold and silver prices soared, the ‘fever’ affected
i! accused of atrocity in Iran. In January and February us all. The ‘Gold Rush of 79,’ was proclaimed when
It as For the release of the hos UN Secretary General Kurt the cost of gold approached a record high of $850 an
tages the militants are ask Waldeim named a five-man ounce. Silver, also a precious metal, rose to $50 an ounce
all ing for the return of the international commission to compared to last year’s price of $8.
life Shah, the Shah’s financial go to Iran to use diplomatic There were people wheeling, dealing, and even stealing
rc» assets, and an apology from maneuvers to persuade the to get into the action. They cashed in everything with a
the United States for ‘past militants to release the hos shimmer and glitter from a gold tooth filling to gold and sil
crimes.’ The U.S. argued, tages, although it was ver antiques that were worth more than their weight in
w “There is nothing for which unsuccessful. metal. The money hungry person felt that gold would fall in
any American need apolo Late in April, President price as fast as it rose. There were others who invested in
gize; the U.S. saved a Mus Carter gave permission to the precious metal thinking it would rise even more in value.
iases
lim country from communist an Entebbe-Style raid plan The metals soaring in value caused products containing
tie
sway in 1953, and since then which was presented by them to rocket in price. It also led to a new boom in silver
nytr
he has been his own man.” Israel 48 hours after the mining. There are 350 mines in Colorado that could possibly
jfioi open.
During the Iran Crisis the Embassy takeover. The
ol Analysts of the most precious metals blame the gold rush
Shah was treated for cancer operation was one of the
jiief in New York, where he went most difficult ever attempted on a combination of things: recession, inflation, and the
m confusion of world affairs — mainly the Iranian-Hostage sit
to Mexico and then Egypt. by the U.S. military, and it
It uation, and the building of American-Soviet tension over
Around Thanksgiving, failed. The plan was aborted
eight black men and five because of equipment prob Afghanistan.
women were released from lems. Eight U.S. servicemen
Iran. The militants stated were killed when one of the A 4-year plague returns
that with the slightest hint of helicopters crashed. The
U.S. military action the bodies were taken and Iran
remaining 49 hostages will talked of bartering for them. 0 rimaries were held in all As of May 1, Carter had
be killed. They also planned Secretary of State Cyrus * 50 states beginning in 1,175 first ballot votes to
to try the 49 hostages for Vance submitted his resig February and ending in Kennedy’s 664. Therefore,
\ espionage. nation to Carter a few days delegates were up for grabs remaining primaries by 70%
Kennedy must win the
June.
In all, 1,666 Democratic
before the Rescue date.
In retaliation, Carter cut
of the majorities. Frontrun
Vance said he was kept in
off U.S. imports of Iranian
oil, and U.S. exports in Iran. the dark about the Rescue between Carter and Ken ner Reagan had 621 to 130
He put a money freeze on plan, and he quit ‘as a matter nedy, and 998 were dele for Bush.
m gated to the Republican run It is predicted by most that
$6.5 billion in Iranian Gov of principle’. He was
* ernment assets in American replaced by Maine’s Senator ners: Reagan, Bush, and Carter, Reagan, and Inde
pendent Anderson will run in
banks. He also put a crack Edmund Muskie. Anderson, (who eventually
down on Iranians in the U.S. decided in April to seek the the presidential election in
nomination as an Independ November.
ent).
