January 24, 1980 Tehran Dear Mrs. Kennedy, Penne has told me how much she admires the way you and your family are weathering this tragic business. Please accept my thanks for all you are doing to make this easier for everyone. I shouldn't say easier- it can't be that- tolerable would be a better word. We think a great deal about our colleagues at the Compound, and we regret we can't do more to help. But we are impressed by their courage, and by their staying power- evident in the fact that their captors have had so little success in their brain- washing efforts. I have no doubt that Mike is weathering it well, knowing him from his work in the Embassy before this happened. I think he was enjoying his work here, and doing it exceedingly well, It is criminal- and I use the word [[?]]- that he and all of his colleagues are now being accused so wrongly of actions harmful to Iran. No one worked harder to contribute to better understanding between the US and the new Iran than Mike. Your friend and ours Troek [[?]]- has been in to see us several times. What a prince of a man he is! He speaks very warmly of you, and of Mike. The Spanish Ambassador sent me a quotation- from an Islamic source recently- "Patience is a bitter cup., which only the strong can drink." I think that applies to you & all the families. Warm regards, Bruce Laingen (Written up the left hand margin of the paper) P.S. Feb 11- There has been no way to get this out of here. No visitations. But tonight, on VOA, we heard your strong voice during an interview in which you angrily denounced the criminality of all this. Good for you!