[dd74]

What Moses said, but as I recall, Reagan publicly stated during the elections that he would destroy Iran the moment he took office, and that was what really sent Jimmy packing. I don't doubt he would have, either. The Iranians simply got scared and let the hostages go.

I don't recall word of any secret dealings; I don't know if there could have been, because if there was such a deal between Regan's people and the Iranians, that would entail two things for it to work out: 1) "unofficial" communication with the Iranians; and 2) assurance that Reagan would win the election. How could he have known with such assurance that he would win? Voter tampering, possibly?

And even so, an incoming administration can't offer conditions like that, can it? It's more or less not official (the administration), even though the election has been won.