October Surprise

October Surprise is the allegation (as well as the title of a 1991 book on the subject by Gary Sick) that representatives of the 1980 Ronald Reagan presidential campaign arranged the Iran-Contra deal well in advance of the 1980 election in which Ronald Reagan defeated Jimmy Carter.

Related Topics:
1991 - Gary Sick - 1980 - Ronald Reagan - Campaign - Iran-Contra - 1980 election - Jimmy Carter

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The alleged conspiracy was to postpone the release of the hostages held by Iran until after the election, thus preventing an "October surprise" (a phrase that has come to mean a stunning news event intended to influence the outcome of a U.S. Presidential Elections) that would have aided Carter, the incumbent. The most public face of the story is that in October 1980, an agreement was reached, after long negotiations, to unfreeze Iran's monetary assets for the safe return of the hostages — but not until after Reagan's inauguration on January 20, 1981. In the sequence of events that unfolded, the hostages were released minutes after Reagan was sworn in as President.

Related Topics:
Hostages held by Iran - October surprise - Elections - January 20 - 1981

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The 1980 Reagan team spoke openly of their fear of an "October surprise" and had "reason to believe" http://www.globalsecurity.org/intell/library/congress/1992_cr/h920205-october-clips.htm as Gary Sick has said, that the Carter administration would attempt another hostage rescue shortly before the election. This was amply reported in the Wall Street Journal and other organizations contemporaneously to the event.

Related Topics:
Gary Sick - Wall Street Journal

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~