The Controversial October Surprise of 1980

The podcast explores a clandestine plot by Ronald Reagan's campaign manager, Bill Casey, to persuade Iran to hold onto American hostages and stymie Jimmy Carter's bid for a second term. The legendary spy master, William J. Casey, is at the center of the story, having become Reagan's CIA director. The episode discusses the allegations that Casey took a secret trip to Madrid, Spain, where he allegedly met with a representative of Ayatollah Khomeini to convince Iran to keep the hostages until election day. The investigation into the October surprise was inconclusive, but a White House memo referencing Casey's unknown purpose in Madrid adds weight to the allegation.