THE IRANIAN CAPER

THE IRANIAN CAPER

 

The release of the new film ARGO brings back memories of the so-called Iranian Caper. When militants stormed the US embassy in Theran and took hostage diplomats and workers, six managed to escape to the home of the Canadian ambassador. A cover story evolved and the six pretended to be Canadians and eventually were able to leave Iran as such. The film tells the story, though it downplays the risk Canadians took in befriending the Americans, and how the Canadian Prime Minister, Joe Clark, worked with the American administration to devise the ruse.

 

Americans, or more specifically Ben Affleck may not appreciate the Canadians' contribution, but they certainly did at the time. Shortly after the six were flown back home, and the story became well known, people from our animation studio, Disada Productions, went to Boston for a comic-animation convention where we did radio interviews and so on. We stayed at a large Sheraton Hotel where the convention was held. On the morning we went to check out and pay our bill, the clerk took out our file, said “You're Canadians? No charge.” He said the stay was free to thank Canada for helping the Americans in this difficult time. He also gave us each a pin, combining the US and Canadian flags.

 

The rest of the Americans were ultimately released about a year later on the day Ronald Reagan was inaugurated President. I was in Cleveland, Ohio that day and the night before on business, and like most people stayed up most of the night to watch the news events unfold live on TV. Everyone was bleary-eyed during the next day's meetings.