Answer:
Reagan was able to dodge criticism by vowing to support anti-Communist insurgencies, but the so-called "Reagan Doctrine" became a political stumbling block after the mid-term elections. There were also no tapes from the Oval Office. When it came to hostages, Reagan issued an ultimatum: send the guys home or else. As a result, they struck an arms-for-hostage deal in which the US agreed to provide weapons to Iran in exchange for hostages.
