Khatami

what's the deal with iran's khatami? i mean i know iran has their reasons to hate america but i guess this is for the poly sci/history students. am i wrong or didn't khatami lean toward a more liberal/democratic stance compared to iranian conservatives when he was elected and pushed to form relations with the U.S.? or is everything happening now all because anti-U.S. sentiments could strip khatami's popularity?