Letter 2 Homecoming Thursday, Oct 23, New York. 1980 Dearest Mike. In all my life I have never spent such an incredible week. What Louisa calls the emotional see-saw is plunging too wildly to be true. I wonder do you know anything about it? Are you sitting in the Embassy reading or playing bridge, wondering why something doesn't happen? Do you hear the Iraqui [sic] bombs? Do you think they are ours? Louisa called me in Northeast 2 weeks ago today to say there was suddenly some hope of release and we could write "homecoming" letters. She had reached Duncan but was working day and night and couldn't get the others. I reached them and we all sent off our letters- then nothing- Walter Cronkite always ending "this is the 3___ day for the hostages in Iran" as he has for a year- but no news- We came down on Tuesday, Oct 14th and it was announced Rajai was coming to the U.N Friday but refused to see Carter or Muskie or any American. Thursday night we went to a big dinner at the Museum of Natural History for the opening of the (Over) Page 2 huge, new Gardner D. Stuart wing. After dinner we talked for a little while with Sec. General Waldheim. He seemed grey and sad but was so kind (we had met him a couple of times last winter at Hostage Services) and assured us he was having a private meeting with Rajai the next day but he could not give us much hope of an early release altho' [sic] he would do everything he could for the "crisis" (that is what the hostages are called. (a hell of a long crisis!) and try and make him see some sense. we got home at 11 to find our appartment [sic] house barricaded, police all over etc. Oh Mike, can you imagine our lying in bed knowing that maybe forty feet away was the man who held your future in his hands? And to feel so helpless-- if we tried to see him we might do irreparable harm to you. Radio and television blaring away----Friday dragged on. He met with the Security Council and did nothing but curse Iraq and the U.S. All the nations apparently insisted they must release the hostages and we knew Page 3 he had had a private talk with Waldheim -- not one hour but over two. At four P.M U.P I called to ask if we were really next to him. I was no good talking to them, so Pop took all calls. Perfectly Steady from 4 to 11:30. He was wonderful -- calm, definite ("no interviews on T. V." - "our daughter- in- law is spokesman for the families, and certainly for this family" "no, sorry, I'm glad to answer your questions on the phone, but thats [sic] all" At seven Cronkite came on, "At 1033 Fifth Ave is a small town house now occupied by the Iranian Prime Minister. By strange coincidence, next door at 1035 Fifth Ave lives Moorhead C. Kennedy, father of hostage Moorhead C. Kennedy, Jr. we talked with Kennedy and he says: (see clippings). The other networks also reported it and again at 11P.M.! Our last call came Page 4 at 11:30 -- "couldn't we just come over for a quick interview with the cameras?" At 7 AM Saturday it began again----French paper (Pop handling!) English paper etc. We got the morning papers an here they are for you. Its (Pop) beam all over the country (Louisa says she's gong to shove over1) and even in the Tokyo press which Ellie Elliott brought us back today! Saturday Arab Ambassadors came to see him, Rajai, and Katherine Keough, the president of FLAG-- that was kept secret till Louisa called Chancellor , Cronkite etc. on Sunday and told them but what they said was not made public, even to us. However Saturday his talk to the Security Council was markedly different. He spoke of how badly he felt for the hostage families and that he had been a prisoner and knew what it meant (maybe Katherine & Pop's influence!) He left Sat night and our phone rang all day Sunday from friends congratulating Pop --- also total Page 5 strangers-- "we want you to know we have had Masses said for them every day" a little girl: "we're all going to the U.N to sing songs of peace and wave 52 flags and pray for your son" and a sultry Puerto Rican lady who after recounting her prayers for you, ended "so how about you and I having a drink together!!!" 8. PM Here is the news- I'll go on later- Mike darling, you cannot imagine the excitement- the statements- the contradictions. Nothing but hostages, hostages, hostages------ and finally at the end a dreary report on the two dreary candidates on of which we must vote for on the 4th!! The anniversary --I don't think anybody is going to vote they are both so unpopular-- but there will be such wild rejoicing if you are free that Carter may be swept in. They can't blame him for playing politics. He didn't make Iraq attack Iran on Sept 22--- he didn't bring the Prime Minister here-- and I truly think the one main thing in his thoughts has been the hostages. Its all a savage coincidence, but as long as you are Page 6 safe, it doesn't matter--- now you must know all about the aborted attempt on April 25-- Louisa was in London asleep having seen the Archbishop of Canterbury and PM Margaret Thatcher the day before. She was rushed to the Embassy to face a full press crowd. Poor child, she was ravaged and trembling, but wonderful and self possessed. She and the other three "family" representatives aslo saw the President of France and the Pope. Barbara Rosen saw Schmidt. All anguished over you. As Duncan said "Nana, my grandchildren will be studying about Daddy, won't they?" Friday- News getting more and more exciting. just talked to Louisa at the office. Apparently, people are leaving for Wiesbaden to meet you. No families, I gather till Washington and then all travel expenses paid for us all. When I hear your voice on the phone I will probably faint, so remember I love you with all my heart, I've thought of you all year with such pride. Pop is finishing up the last clippings--- all of them since Nov 4, '79 neatly filed for reference. It has been hard on him-- you are everything to him and he lives, and always has, everything you go thro' [sic]. But we are all fine, physically & phycho [sic] Bless you Mum Written up the left margin: Have had to limit quantity of homecoming letters to keep to our share of space.