Big Changes The change in Iran is startling.  Gone is the old leader (top right), who was put in power by the US to maintain western control of Iranian oilfields. He is replaced after a tumultuous revolution by a stern Muslim cleric, seemingly from an earlier century (lower right). In neighboring Iraq, Saddam Hussein seizes the moment to attack , while Iran is still in the throes of revolution.

	US Embassy Stormed Revolutionary Iranian zealots, led by students, storm the gates of the US embassy in the Iranian capital of Tehran. They march 53 captives out in blindfolds, to be held hostage for the entire year-long presidential campaign. There's nothing Carter can do about it. Iranians are filled with righteous anger against the US, which installed the Shah after secretly staging a coup to remove a moderate, democratically-elected, democracy-loving leader.
	Man of the Hour The hostage crisis plays perfectly into the hands of Ronald Reagan, who merely waits out the election year, smiling broadly, while Carter twists and turns in the wind. Meanwhile, Reagan cozies up to right-wing religious leaders, who are eager to be buddies with the conservative Republican. Reagan wins in a landslide, while Iran releases the hostages right after the election, as a final snub to Carter. Soon, the hippies are out, replaced by proper business-oriented Republicans, like the Wall Street interns at lower right.