This was quite a blow to America’s collective ego as the Iranians violated international treaties on embassies to do this. However, all nation-states do these things so to call the Iranians barbarians is hypocrisy, especially given how Kermit Roosevelt overthrew their original, legitimate government.
I was in grade school when it went down, sixth grade exactly. Even for kids, the crap going down in the Middle East was a topic of discussion. I think we were probably frightened of the whole mess escalating into a nuclear war even though the Soviet Union probably just sat back and chuckled at how impotent America looked (St. Reagan would prove this years later with his in meddling in Lebanon’s civil war). The whole debacle definitely ratcheted up a lot of anger across the whole political spectrum.
Although I’m not a huge fan of conspiracies but I will always suspect that St. Reagan and his thugs made sure the situation dragged on throughout the election. He and especially the murderous, lying shitbags William Casey, Don Rumsfeld and Bush the Elder would do to win in 1980. It makes a little sense. After a few months, the Iranian radicals were pretty bored of the situation really and the whole mess had settled into a stalemate. Besides, St. Reagan capitulated to the Iranians by unfreezing a few billions in assets Carter had locked up as soon as the plane was in the air. Another factor? The corrupt administration amazingly had a few contacts in Iran in order to carry out their arms-for-hostages arrangement. This was an impeachable offense too; something Congress failed to do. It tells me the chances of removing another asshole for acting like a tinpot dictator are nil.
One good thing did come from this. ABC’s nightly hostage watch show transformed into Nightline with Ted Koppel for several decades until it was replaced by the underwhelming Jimmy Kimmel show.