I’ve been looking into the life of George Hansen for another project and came across something I thought interesting. If you don’t remember George, let me quote from his obituary printed in the New York Times in August:
“George V. Hansen, a Republican politician whose open disdain for federal authority made him a popular figure in Idaho, where he was elected to Congress seven times, and who twice landed in federal prison, died on Thursday in Pocatello, Idaho. He was 83.”
That obituary went on to describe two of the more vivid episodes from George’s career, the first being his trip to Tehran during the hostage crisis (1979-1981):
“The 6-foot-6 Mr. Hansen was known in Idaho for flamboyance, impulsiveness, affability and tireless campaigning. Outside the state, he may be best remembered for his visit to Tehran in November 1979, shortly after Iranian students overran the United States Embassy there and took dozens of hostages, whom they would hold for 444 days.
“Without notifying the White House, Mr. Hansen undertook the visit ‘to see if I could build some bridges and open some doors,’ he said. President Jimmy Carter called the mission ‘not useful,’ saying it could endanger the official negotiations. Mr. Hansen nevertheless returned to Tehran the next month for more meetings. No hostages were released as a result.”
Now let us look at the same incident, as entered in his Wikipedia profile. It is copied exactly as it appears in that on-line “encyclopedia”:
“Congressman Hansen risked his life when he went to Tehran by himself in 1979 in the middle of the Iran hostage crisis to try to negotiate with the hostage takers through the fence of the U.S. Embassy. When negotiations failed Congressman Hansen threatened the hostage takers by telling them that Ronald Reagan would be the next President of the United States and told them that President Reagan will come after them and destroy them if they refuse to release the American hostages. On November 4, 1980 Ronald Reagan won the Presidential election in a landslide. On January 20, 1981, at the moment Ronald Reagan completed his 20 minute inaugural address after being sworn in as President, the 52 American hostages were released by Iran into U.S. custody, having spent 444 days in captivity. It appears that Congressman Hansen’s threat put the fear of God into the hearts and minds of the Iranian hostage…
“George V. Hansen, a Republican politician whose open disdain for federal authority made him a popular figure in Idaho, where he was elected to Congress seven times, and who twice landed in federal prison, died on Thursday in Pocatello, Idaho. He was 83.”
That obituary went on to describe two of the more vivid episodes from George’s career, the first being his trip to Tehran during the hostage crisis (1979-1981):
“The 6-foot-6 Mr. Hansen was known in Idaho for flamboyance, impulsiveness, affability and tireless campaigning. Outside the state, he may be best remembered for his visit to Tehran in November 1979, shortly after Iranian students overran the United States Embassy there and took dozens of hostages, whom they would hold for 444 days.
“Without notifying the White House, Mr. Hansen undertook the visit ‘to see if I could build some bridges and open some doors,’ he said. President Jimmy Carter called the mission ‘not useful,’ saying it could endanger the official negotiations. Mr. Hansen nevertheless returned to Tehran the next month for more meetings. No hostages were released as a result.”
Now let us look at the same incident, as entered in his Wikipedia profile. It is copied exactly as it appears in that on-line “encyclopedia”:
“Congressman Hansen risked his life when he went to Tehran by himself in 1979 in the middle of the Iran hostage crisis to try to negotiate with the hostage takers through the fence of the U.S. Embassy. When negotiations failed Congressman Hansen threatened the hostage takers by telling them that Ronald Reagan would be the next President of the United States and told them that President Reagan will come after them and destroy them if they refuse to release the American hostages. On November 4, 1980 Ronald Reagan won the Presidential election in a landslide. On January 20, 1981, at the moment Ronald Reagan completed his 20 minute inaugural address after being sworn in as President, the 52 American hostages were released by Iran into U.S. custody, having spent 444 days in captivity. It appears that Congressman Hansen’s threat put the fear of God into the hearts and minds of the Iranian hostage…