During the election season of 1980 it became clear that if Jimmy Carter could get the hostages out of Iran he would win the election and probably in a landslide.
During the campaign his organization accused the reagan camp of making a deal with the Iranians to have them keep the hostages until after the election, of course Carter's campaign was roundly ridiculed. Of course the hostages were released on the day of reagan's inauguration which in my view proved Carter's claim.
I don't think Carter's inability to get the hostages out of Iran can be overstated. If he had been able to do it reagan's time would have passed and I don't think we'd be where we are now.
I had thought at the time that Iran-Contra was just an extension of the October surprise scenario. I don't remember where, but I read recently that a congressional committee was set up in the late 80's or early 90's to disprove the October surprise, and of course they did. My question is, do people here think this happened, or not?