This Day In 1970's History: Thursday January 29, 1981
- Revenge on Iran was rejected by President Reagan as unworthy of the American national character. He declined to say what actions he might take to enforce his pledge of "swift and effective retribution" against future acts of terrorism against Americans.
An American-Soviet dispute over Moscow's position on the freed American hostages intensified. Replying to American protests, the Soviet Union defended its stand as proper and accused Washington of keeping the issue alive as a pretext for a naval buildup in the Persian Gulf. [New York Times]
- President Reagan denounced Moscow for reserving "the right to commit any crime, to lie, to cheat." Officials said that Secretary of State Alexander Haig had sent a message to Andrei Gromyko, the Soviet Foreign Minister, warning that a Soviet invasion of Poland could mean dire consequences for East-West relations. [New York Times]
- A former hostage was jailed alone for long periods, part of the time in cramped, unheated cells while snow fell outside and the walls exuded a cold sweat, according to his account of capitivity in Iran. Michael Metrinko, the former captive, said he believed that his treatment was especially harsh because his record as a political officer had led his captors to think he was a spy and because he often returned their curses and verbal abuse.
A freed hostage hopes for an inquiry by the Senate into why the Carter administration allowed the deposed Shah to enter the United States in 1979 for medical treatment. Barry Rosen, the former captive, said that the American Embassy in Iran had warned the State Department about the likely consequences of accepting the Shah. [New York Times]
- A freeze on new federal regulations for 60 days was ordered by President Reagan as he reaffirmed his opposition to "wildly skyrocketing deficits and runaway government." At his first news conference since taking office on Jan. 20, Mr. Reagan also announced that he had abolished the federal agency that has monitored wage and price increases for the last six years. He said that his program of deep budget cuts, which is to be ready by mid-February, would be "bigger than anyone has ever attempted." [New York Times]
- Some Cuban criminals will be freed under a plan being formulated by the Justice Department. Officials said that, under the plan, an undetemined number of the 1,700 refugees being held in federal prisons because of crimes committed in Cuba would be moved to a refugee camp and then released in the United States. [New York Times]
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