Farewell to Ken Taylor, the Savior of American Embassy Employees in Tehran

The funeral of Ken Taylor, the former Canadian ambassador to Tehran who sheltered American embassy staff during the 1979 hostage crisis, was held on Tuesday, October 27, in Toronto, attended by high-ranking Canadian officials and the U.S. ambassador to Canada. Reports from Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty mention Joe Clark, the former Canadian Prime Minister during the hostage crisis, and Justin Trudeau, the current Prime Minister of Canada, as prominent figures present to bid farewell to the most famous Canadian diplomat in the world. Mr. Clark noted in the ceremony that Ken Taylor's assistance to the American hostages drew global admiration for his behavior and courage, stating, 'This is the kind of behavior expected from a Canadian.' Ken Taylor passed away on Thursday, October 24, at the age of 81 due to colon cancer. The Associated Press reports that Mr. Taylor hid several American embassy employees for three months at the home of his deputy, John Sheardown, in Tehran. He facilitated their escape from Iran by arranging plane tickets and pressuring the Canadian government to issue fake visas for these individuals. He was praised as a hero in both the U.S. and Canada for his crucial role in aiding the escape of American embassy staff. Some of Ken Taylor's actions during the aftermath of the Iranian revolution were depicted in the 2012 Hollywood film 'Argo.' However, Mr. Taylor and some other political figures at the time, including Jimmy Carter, the U.S. President during the hostage crisis, believed that the film downplayed the role of the Canadian ambassador in the operation to rescue embassy staff. Pat Taylor, Mr. Taylor's wife, stated that his cancer diagnosis was made in August of this year. According to her, Ken Taylor, born in Calgary in 1934, was generous throughout his life in helping others. Mrs. Taylor told the Associated Press in a phone interview, 'He helped many people selflessly, and it was precisely because of this generosity that the story of helping American embassy staff in Tehran unfolded. He never hesitated for a moment about it. His legacy is that giving and helping is important, not taking. He treated all his friends this way.' Six American embassy employees managed to escape during the attack on the building. They hid in various ways for five days and ultimately spent three months hidden in the Canadian ambassador's residence. The CIA contacted the Canadian government regarding how to rescue these individuals, and the Canadian government issued fake passports for them. Former U.S. President Ronald Reagan invited Ken Taylor to the White House to express gratitude for his assistance. A few years later, he was appointed as the Canadian Consul General in New York, where he was awarded the key to the city for his services. Following Ken Taylor's death on Thursday, many expressed their gratitude towards him. John Kerry, the U.S. Secretary of State, tweeted that Mr. Taylor showed immense courage and that his actions underscore the depth of U.S.-Canada relations. A spokesperson for the U.S. National Security Council also stated in a statement that Mr. Taylor's actions during the hostage crisis were undoubtedly heroic. Stephen Harper, the former Prime Minister of Canada, expressed his condolences regarding Ken Taylor's death, stating, 'He risked his life by sheltering American embassy staff during his ambassadorship in Iran. Ken Taylor represented the best values of Canadian foreign policy.' Although Ken Taylor's actions were reintroduced and popularized with the release of the film 'Argo,' Mr. Taylor himself stated after the film's release that Canada was merely portrayed as a spectator to the heroic actions of CIA agents in 'Argo.' The film's premiere at the Toronto Film Festival in 2012 angered Ken Taylor's friends. The closing credits of 'Argo' remind viewers that Ken Taylor received 112 awards and formal recognitions for his role in the escape of American embassy staff. However, it notes that Ken Taylor seems not to deserve this recognition, as the film concludes with the CIA deciding to allow Canada to gain credit for its assistance in this matter. In 2013, Ken Taylor's story during the hostage crisis was recounted again in a documentary titled 'Our Man in Tehran' at the Toronto Film Festival. Ken Taylor is survived by his wife and a son named Douglas.