James Earl CarterDemocrat

Carter’s background…• Peanut farmer (Agri-business)• A Christian • US Naval Academy graduate• 1970 Gov. of GA• 1976 elected U.S. President

1976 Presidential Election

Carter…• Portrayed himself as a “Washington outsider”• Portrayed Ford as an extension of the Nixon era• Stressed his moral & religious views… An honest man• Average guy appeal

Objectives…

• Summarize Carter’s response to the economic problems of the era.

• Identify the major reasons for Americans losing faith in the federal government.

What economic problems was Carter facing as President?...

Stagflation

President Carter’s Domestic

Agenda

Draft Evaders & Deserters• The first day in office Carter pardons

Vietnam draft evaders

• Carter did not pardon deserters

Energy PolicyCarter believes our economic problems are

related to foreign oil dependency

• The National Energy Act… – Taxed high mileage cars – Tax credits for fuel conservation– Institutes the wind fall profit tax oil

companies ...taxes the excessive profit made on oil

– Tax credits for research & development

July, 1979: The “crisis of confidence” or “malaise speech”…

• Related to… JFK assassination, Vietnam & Watergate

“…. It is a crisis that strikes at the very heart and soul and spirit of our national will. We can see this crisis in the growing doubt about the meaning of our own lives and in the loss of a unity of purpose for our nation.

…threatening to destroy the social and the political fabric of America.”

Public backlash against Carter

President Carter &

Foreign Policy

Objective…

Describe the foreign policy issues of the Carter Administration.

Carter’s highest priority …The support of human rights

The Carter Doctrine…The United States would use military force to defend its

national interests in the Persian Gulf region.

Menachem Begin - Jimmy Carter - Anwar Al Sadat Israel USA Egypt

1978: The Camp David TalksThe Camp David Peace Accords

• 13 days of negotiations on peace in the Middle East• Meetings held at Camp David• Results in the Camp David Accords

- A peace agreement between Israel and Egypt

Iran Hostage Crisis November 4, 1979

• Islamic militants overthrow the Shah of Iran • 500 Islamic militants take 66 U.S. citizens

hostage… 59 hostages for

Ayatollah Khomeini

Iran hostage crisis November 4, 1979

• WHY?...– Militant Iranians are seeking an Islamic

religious state & resent American interference in Iranian

– Carter admits the deposed Shah of Iran to the U.S. for cancer treatment.

Operation Eagle Claw A failed rescue attempt resulting in the

deaths of 8 U.S. servicemen.

Iran Hostage Crisis• The hostages were released minutes after

Reagan took office• Carter was defeated in the 1980 election

because of the crisis

The 1980 Olympic Boycott

• In 1979 the Soviets invade Afghanistan• Carter issues an ultimatum…

Soviet withdraw or U.S. will boycott • In 1984 the S.U. boycotts the 1984 L.A. Olympics• The results…

Why was Jimmy Carter so popular when he took office?

What was President Carter’s priority in foreign affairs?

President Carter’s most spectacular foreign-policy

achievement was the…

Personal & political short comings of Jimmy Carter…

• Lacks leadership & political experience

• Lackluster reforms