11. The “October Surprise” conspiracy theory attempts to connect the Iran hostage crisis and the Iran-Contra Affair to Reagan
Following the taking of American hostages during the Iranian Revolution in November 1979, prior to the presidential election in 1980, the Republican Party remained persistently concerned President Carter might resolve the situation at the final hour and garner an electoral boost to retain office. Failing to inflict this blow upon his adversary, the Republican candidate, Ronald Reagan, emerged victorious and was inaugurated on January 20, 1981. Merely twenty minutes after Reagan’s swearing-in as President of the United States, Iran unilaterally announced the release of fifty-two American hostages.
Although perhaps coincidental or benign, the timing unsurprisingly generated intense focus and has since spawned related conspiracy theories alleging collusion between the Reagan campaign and Iran. Asserting Iran was persuaded to hold onto the hostages during the election to ensure Carter’s approval continue to dwindle, the theory contends Reagan promised in return for the assistance to supply Iran with embargoed weapons – an act allegedly fulfilled by his administration until being exposed as the Iran-Contra affair years later. Lacking supporting evidence, with only a handful of individuals testifying in the affirmative and no corroborating material discovered despite multiple congressional inquiries, the unsubstantiated conspiracy theory remains an interesting, if unlikely, question of history.