On this date in 1979, Iranian Islamists invaded the US Embassy in Tehran taking hostage 66 US Diplomats. 
52 of those would be held hostage for 444 days, until Iran became concerned that the new US President would do more than talk.
Left: Iranian militants, including Mahmood Ahdiminijihadist, current Iranian President, circled, escort a blindfolded U.S. hostage to the media. Iran-U.S. Hostage Crisis(1979-1981)
While the Embassy Invasion marked the end of diplomatic relations with a once strong ally that had hosted Allied Leaders in World War II, it was the culmination of bad US policies that sent Iran (from Aryan), formerly Persia, from a respected Nation into a tyranical islamist exporter of terrorism.
The Shah, i.e. king (from which we receive the term "check" in chess), was a poor leader, but he had one ace. The US had been his advisor and he listened closely. The advice he received after 1976 sent the country into a tailspin. His continued efforts to squash dissent from a pro-democracy movement was not put in check. Instead, the US Administration ordered him to re-admit the firebrand, exiled Ayatollah Khomeni.
"We should have shut down the embassy after February 14th. And said to the Iranians 'When you want us back, we will be back," Acting US Ambassador Barry Rosen referring to the first attempt on the US Embassy.
"We are still worried about the Soviets. We had listening posts in the embassy. That to the administration was more important than bilateral relations or the bodies [the embassy personnel] that were in Tehran,"
Khomeni promised the dissidents democracy while usurping the leaders of democracy. Once he attained power, those desiring democracy were squashed. He sent "students" to invade the US Embassy. The Iranian security forces assigned to protecting embassies made no effort to do so.
"One young man, looking rather ferocious at that time, started to kick, to kick the door down," he says, "This person said to me in a loud voice, in Farsi, "You are under arrest! You are a member of the nest of spies! You are going to come with me!" US Embassy Press Attache Barry Rosen
During the next 444 days, the US President would prove inept at Diplomatic and Military attempts to free the hostages. His insistence on direct command and control and shared glory across services would lead to catastrophe in Desert One, while his agreeing to outrageous demands of the new tyrant, the Ayatollah, would embarass the United States over and over again.
Background: Ayatollah Khomeni was a known islamist revolutionary exiled from Iran by the Shah.
Jimmy Carter pressured the Government of Iran to allow the Khomeni to return to Iran.
The Shah was an ineffective brutal monarch who turned to the US Government for advice in governance.
Jimmy Carter refused to offer the Shah advice, even to advise against the execution of dissidents.
A Sizable Pro-Democracy Movement was underway in Iran.
In February 1979, the Shah was overthrown and the Ayatollah Khomeni seized control from those democratic forces.
On November 4th, 1979 in conjunction with the illegal government of Iran, with participation of the Iranian Police charged with protecting the Embassy and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard, 300 "students" seized the US Embassy and took 66 diplomats hostage and held 52 of them as "Guests of the Ayatollah" for the next 444 days.
Jimmy Carter had previously reduced the diplomatic mission in Tehran from more than 1000 to approximately 60.
During the next 444 days of American embarrassment, Jimmy Carter would prove that he was as inept at diplomacy as he was at military matters. He assumed the role of Military Commander of a flawed rescue attempt which was the first known action of the Elite Delta Force. Carter's insistence on all branches of the service being involved led to pilots flying equipment they had never touched. The lack of joint operation experience eventually led to the deaths of Eight American Troops and an immediate retreat by Carter's Command.
On the diplomatic front, Carter agreed to numerous embarrassing concessions to the Iranians, only to have the Iranians pull the deal out from under him at the last moment.
Today, the US Embassy in Tehran is the Headquarters of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards and perhaps it is the future location of the talks between Obama and Ahdiminijihadist. Perhaps, if it is, the multitude of anti-American graffitti will convince him of the error of his stubborn arrogant ignorance in calling for unconditioned talks with an enemy that bested his predecessor best known for his diplomacy.
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