A blast from the past - thirty years ago

Interesting -- from today's (October 20, 2012) New York Times:

U.S. Officials Say Iran Has Agreed to Nuclear Talks
The United States and Iran have agreed in principle for the first time to one-on-one negotiations over Iran�s nuclear program, according to Obama administration officials, setting the stage for what could be a last-ditch diplomatic effort to avert a military strike on Iran.

Iranian officials have insisted that the talks wait until after the presidential election, a senior administration official said, telling their American counterparts that they want to know with whom they would be negotiating.

News of the agreement � a result of intense, secret exchanges between American and Iranian officials that date almost to the beginning of President Obama�s term � comes at a critical moment in the presidential contest, just two weeks before Election Day and the weekend before the final debate, which is to focus on national security and foreign policy.

It has the potential to help Mr. Obama make the case that he is nearing a diplomatic breakthrough in the decade-long effort by the world�s major powers to curb Tehran�s nuclear ambitions, but it could pose a risk if Iran is seen as using the prospect of the direct talks to buy time.

It is also far from clear that Mr. Obama�s opponent, Mitt Romney, would go through with the negotiation should he win election. Mr. Romney has repeatedly criticized the president as showing weakness on Iran and failing to stand firmly with Israel against the Iranian nuclear threat.

Emphasis mine. About 30 years ago, on President Jimmy Carter's watch, 52 Americans were taken hostage in Iran and held for 444 days only to be freed when Ronald Reagan was elected President. Carter oversaw such delicate negotiations -- delicate and thoughtful negotiations. He was nuanced, an intellectual. He met them at the table. President Ronald Reagan swept into office and a few minutes after Reagan's inauguration, all 52 hostages were released. This is not diplomacy, this is a bunch of theocrats filling their Depends(r) in fear because we could very well have some adults in the White House next year.