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Ken Taylor, Former Canadian Ambassador To Iran, Speaks Exclusively To James Lipton On AOL.com

First Posted: 02/25/13 EST Updated: 02/25/13 EST

In 1979, Ken Taylor, the then-Canadian ambassador to Iran, and his wife Pat, sheltered a group of American hostages in their Tehran home. The six Americans stayed there in secret for three months until a plan was hatched to smuggle them out of Iran. This, of course, formed the basis for the Oscar-winning film 'Argo.'

On Sunday, James Lipton interviewed Ken and Pat Taylor about what it was like for their lives to be the subject of a critically acclaimed movie. Just hours later, 'Argo' won three Oscars, including the coveted Best Picture award. Real-life hero Ken Taylor, who was played by Victor Garber in the Hollywood version of his life, described the film as 'timely and pertinent.' While the Taylors acknowledged that some liberties and poetic license were taken with the movie, they also noted that the finished work was 'tense and thrilling.'

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06:24 PM on 02/25/2013
It seemed as though what I have said has been turned around just like all the politician and media would. The story in Argo was not anything new. Any well read person would know about the revolution in 1952 and outcome of it. The hostage taking was a smear in everyones core. It was inhuman and ugly.My comment is this : the movie was about Ben Afflec. It did not show the characrter of the people whom did the hastage taking,it did not show the hostages and what they went through; it was about the tugs and Ben and all outside the embassy. It was about ALL iranians. The movie was made of clips from 1952 and utube and other sources. Why all of sudden Ben Affleck wakes up after 30 some years to remind us the price we all paid for ugly action of some?
For those get angry at other people's comment is what we all need to learn; we all have differeent views and this is DEMOCRACY. Lets be kind, and informed.
05:07 PM on 02/25/2013
I loved the film, and hold great admiration for the Taylors and the risk they took to save those six lives. Long live Canada.
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Joanne B
Enjoy this day!
02:49 PM on 02/25/2013
Bravo..Bravo!! well done Mr and Mrs Taylor =)) oh and thanks as well!!
01:31 PM on 02/25/2013
Part 2:

In addition, many of us who were not poor but needed a leg up for tuition would have gotten the help. The list goes on. Interest rates were high, but Congress is as much to blame as Carter. Oh yeah and Reagan would not have won the election when with one swipe of the pen he eliminated the moratorium on Whaling (negotiated and won by environmentalist organizations world wide) for 2 to 4 more years, thus allowing the butchery of these magnificent beasts to appease the Japanese and increase trade with them.

Reagan loved a photo op and KNEW cartered won the hostages freedom, so they both should have received credit. But his administration was wrought with problems and he was running the country with half his wit. Alzheimers takes years to degrade and he barely made it out of the White House with his integrity intact.

And people don't forget history, they just rewrite it. Very sad..
05:48 PM on 02/25/2013
Reagan didn't win the election because he signed a whaling moratorium. He won because we were all sick to death of CARTER!
05:47 AM on 02/26/2013
You don't' read well. I said nothing of the sort. I SAID if you read, that he f 'd up so many times and how he f'd up. So, you turn the country to a man who bankrupted California. Brilliant. And you elected a man already showing the sign of alzheimers.
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smburwick
01:29 PM on 02/25/2013
Now you can contrast with Benghazi.
01:25 PM on 02/25/2013
I've had occasion to criticize Canada (hence Canadians) over the years, but with hindsight, enlightened by fresh insights (such as the events portrayed in Argo) I realize my negative opinions were unjustified and mostly the product of US arrogance and disinformation. As a result, I feel compelled to apologize ("Canada, I'm sorry").
I believe Argo and Lincoln (the only two films I actually saw) were truly affecting movies and deserving of recognition, because they portrayed the selfless and heroic actions of ACTUAL human beings who faced tremendous adversity and prevailed. And in the effort, demonstrated honor and courage, amidst frailty, to which all humanity should aspire.
Argo is indeed relevant and should cause all of us pause to carefully consider the "rightness" of our government's future actions, in particular, as relating to Iran. Argo began by reminding viewers that Iranians were ENTITLED to feel much anger towards the U.S. for its support of the tyrant that ruled them. WE WERE ON THE WRONG SIDE! Today, there seems to be strong evidence that many Iranians do not support the actions and intentions of their government. As our elected representatives pursue policies and actions to persuade their leaders not to join the "club" of nuclear-armed States, I pray same won't lead to the slaughter of hundreds of thousands of innocent people (like Iraq) and put us once again on the wrong side of history.
03:07 PM on 02/25/2013
I am married to an Iranian American so I see and hear a lot about all things Iranian. My husband has said for years that most people who supported the Revolution in '79 now know that they made a mistake (but also know the Shah wasn't the answer either). We now have four young people here with us who are devastated by what is happening in their country. And they have talked at length about the struggles of living inside Iran now. Suffice it to say that the sanctions ARE WORKING. Money that was worth 20,000 six months ago is now worth 6,000. Hospitals have no supplies to do even basic things for patients. Food is almost too expensive to buy. Common ordinary people are struggling to live. There is NO HOPE for the youth of Iran. They tried a Revolution four years ago and failed because they had no outside help! Sixty percent of the population of Iran was born AFTER the '79 uprising. Of all the Middle Eastern countries...Iran is the ONLY one I believe actually would have a shot at making it as a democratic country...it is full of young people who see via the internet what we have and they want it too. Invading and killing them is not the answer. They need our HELP not a forced invasion.
01:24 PM on 02/25/2013
Michelle Obama announcing this best picture award was ment to excuse Barak for
his failure to rescue the Bengazi embassy ambassadore and staff. Note that it was
the Candaian embassy who facilitated the rescue the six Americans from the Irian
militants. This award confirms that Holly Wood is league with Obama.
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David Hutchison
03:59 PM on 02/25/2013
You dont even know the real story...It was organized by the CIA as detailed in the reports declassified later. They went to the Canadian embassy after our embassy was overrun.
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Charles Schlaff
01:00 PM on 02/25/2013
Thank you , Mr and Mrs Taylor.
Those were hard times for this country that most young people in this country can not fathom.
You two are truly inspirational and greatly appreciated.
It seems like yesterday even though it was 30 years ago, thats how serious the circumstances was where some one can close their eyes and watch the daily news of the hostage crisis.
I can still remember the cheering and the joy that the country felt when these people came home, just like I can when all the other hostages came home thanks to the new president " Ronald Reagan".
I was happy to see You guys on here still healthy and seem very very happy, your comments about my country pretty much brought me to tears , knowing others from other countries have hope and see us as a symbol when so much is going on today.
Thank you for this interview and god bless both of you.
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David Hutchison
04:03 PM on 02/25/2013
Oh please the hostages were released at 1200 NOON on Jan 20...Reagan did nothing...He was just becoming president. No one deserves credit for this, the Iranians were tired of holding them..
12:46 PM on 02/25/2013
Argo was a great movie. In fact, my friend who attended with me was so tensed by the sequences, she constantly squeezed my arm involuntarily. At the end of the movie, watchers got up and gave the movie a standing ovation. It was the best movie since Avatar.
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Charles Schlaff
01:00 PM on 02/25/2013
We did that when we saw it too--all of about 200 of the people watching it.
01:00 PM on 02/25/2013
God, I hate it when people do that. Who do they think is going to hear them?
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cr8rwest
1927modt
02:47 PM on 02/25/2013
Wild cat,
Hey, lighten up. There is nothing wrong with people expressing themselves, especially praise and joy.
What do you want .. Obama passing some more regulations prohibition expression of joy?

Besides, your embarrassing the rest of us Scott's. We do like a good time and happiness.
Sorry, but I still can't explain that gold thing.
03:10 PM on 02/25/2013
Why would that bother you? It's just a positive way to show how you feel about something. Nothing wrong with that.
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12:36 PM on 02/25/2013
Bless You Both!
12:36 PM on 02/25/2013
Of all the films nominated for Best Picture, I saw ARGO, LINCOLN & ZERO DARK THIRTY. That said, I can't consider myself a critic in even the broadest terms, however, I liked all these films alot but really loved ARGO. I don't know why that more than the others except to say I read the book by Bergen as to the killing of Bin Laden and found it to be the most factual vs the other books written and the movie that I feel depicted portions of the facts as written by Bergen. I also read A Team of Rivals when it first came out which is long before the release of Lincoln. It's a great book and Doris Kerns Goodwin is an extremely gifted writer. I always felt that Lincoln was/is one of our best presidents and the fact it didn't win Best Picture did nothing to change my feelings. With ARGO, however, I recall watching how the hostage take over took place, the announcement by the great ABC announcer Jim McKay had the awful position to announce, in 4 words..."they are all gone." While we didn't know until years later what really occured. In no small measure with the assistance from our friends to the north, Canadian Ambassador Taylor & his wife concocting a plan to escort 6 Americans out, after shielding them for 3 months.
So while we know the ending of each film...the drama is still fresh, 33 years later.
04:16 PM on 02/25/2013
Dan Good comments but I believe that Jim McKays comment was for the hostages taken during the 72 Olympics in Munich. The Israelies stormed the place and they killed the hostages.
08:01 PM on 02/26/2013
You're correct...sorry for the mistake...nonetheless, I still loved ARGO and believed it was worthy of the award.  Again, thanks for correcting me.
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poozybear
I'll take coffee. Tea makes people bitter.
12:36 PM on 02/25/2013
Excellent clip! I loved Argo, but was disappointed that there was such a small amount of story about the Canadian ambassador, who, in my opinion, was the true hero of the film (and the actual event). We were left not knowing what happened to him and his wife, or how they got out. Now I know. Good man, good interview.
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David Hutchison
04:31 PM on 02/25/2013
They took a train, he told the CIA agent in Iran and they gave the housekeeper Canadian citzenship to protect her
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klavezo
12:31 PM on 02/25/2013
Canada O Canada.........
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ejgabriel9
Enough blaming one side, this is a bipartisan mess
12:41 PM on 02/25/2013
Yes, makes me proud of my Canadian heritage.
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Charles Schlaff
01:15 PM on 02/25/2013
Dint quit singing
12:31 PM on 02/25/2013
A Heroic couple indeed. Bless you.
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12:30 PM on 02/25/2013
Any movie that makes Hollywood look like "Heros" will win over a movie that makes our military look like Heros........
12:36 PM on 02/25/2013
I guess you didn't see Argo. Historical revisionism aside; the movie portrays US and Canadian service people and diplomats as heros -- not Hollywood.
01:23 PM on 02/25/2013
This movie made NO ONE in Hollywood look like a hero. It made ordinary American and Candian citizens and one CIA agent look like heros. You definitely did NOT see this movie but yet you are spouting off. Typical conservative always bitching about things they know nothing about.
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cr8rwest
1927modt
02:58 PM on 02/25/2013
Lighten up Sksnyder ..
Hollywood was portrayed as the instrumental component in making the plan work. Remember the producer, John Goodman's part and the Variety magazine components, the artistic renderings and the funny scene when they purchased the rights to the script, ARGO?
Yes I agree with Americaone's inital post. It was a combined effort with two countries, politicians and Hollywood, like it or not.
You Lib/Socialist, Progressives are so angry at another point of view other than your's that you have very incorrectly spouted off chastising as you put it the "Typical conservative always bitching ..." ........... and yet that is exactly what you did.
You're giving your "side" a bad representation. hopefully the rest of "your" people are more open minded.
Oh, and by the way .. watch the movie.
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03:18 PM on 02/25/2013
sksnyner25...I in fact, did see this film and thought it was excellect. I happen to think that another film was better. My opinion appears to differ from yours so you feel the need to lower yourself and to "spout" insults......sad