UNLV Boyd School of Law professor Leslie C. Griffin revisits the “October Surprise,” a theory alleging that the Reagan/Bush campaign in 1980 covertly negotiated with Iran to delay the release of American hostages until after Ronald Reagan’s election, thereby undermining President Jimmy Carter’s re-election efforts. Professor Griffin, reflecting on Craig Unger’s Den of Spies, argues that substantial evidence—including corroboration from Iranian sources and historical patterns—supports this claim, framing it as an act of treason that not only reshaped Carter’s legacy but also influenced subsequent political and foreign policy scandals like Iran-Contra.