In the Shadow of the Ayatollah

Looming in the background of today’s dealings with Iran are the memories of1979, when Islamic militants held U.S. diplomatic personnel hostage in theAmerican Embassy in Tehran. In the Shadow of the Ayatollah relates the crisisthrough the unique perspective of Bill Daugherty, an officer for the CentralIntelligence Agency (CIA) serving at the embassy. Once his CIA connectionwas discovered, Daugherty became a special target of his captors and wassubjected to extraordinarily harsh treatment. He managed to survive theordeal by relying upon his Marine Corps training and combat experience,ultimately being awarded the State Department Medal of Valor and the CIAExceptional Service Medal.

Drawing on intelligence information, declassified materials, interviews with keygovernment officials, as well as his own firsthand knowledge, Daugherty shedslight on this disturbing event. In his account, Daugherty reveals the WhiteHouse decision-making process in this crisis and how the Soviet Union wasinvolved.