Jimmy Carter

Question 1

Context

Answer 1

Came into office Jan 1977- country divided + disillusioned
Liberalism discredited, movement towards more conservative political, social, and cultural values- dividing the Democratic Party
Crises in energy, welfare, heath care, and inner cities

Question 2

Presidential Style- Successes

Answer 2

Air of optimism- seen as an outsider/uncorrupted
Walked back to WH after inauguration, didn’t take limo
Engaged with citizens + attended town council meetings

Question 3

Presidential Style- Failures (Problems with Congress)

Answer 3

Judged to be aloof, self-righteous, and a micromanager
Lack of experience a liability- relied on advisers from his own state (Georgia Mafia/Peanut Brigade)
Didn’t delegate, failed to bargain/negotiate with other Senators
‘didn’t seem to understand the need to master the legislative process’ - House Speaker, Tip O’Neill

Question 4

Presidential Style- Failures (Scandals)

Answer 4

Media saw his wife, Rosalynn Carter, as too powerful
‘Billygate scandal’, July 1980. His brother Billy, as a foreign agent, received $220,000 ‘loan’ from Libyan gov, led by Gaddafi
Investigated by Senate and Justice Department
December 1977- only 18% had a lot of confidence in him
1980- 64% believed America was in ‘deep and serious trouble’
Lowest approval rating of any president

Question 5

Economic Problems- Initial Actions

Answer 5

Attempted to encourage recovery with stimulus package. Every citizen got $50 tax rebate, cut corporate taxes by $990 million, and increased spending on public works.
Limited social spending- fiscal conservatism; concerned with avoiding inflation, not unemployment

Question 6

Economic Problems- Initial Results

Answer 6

1977- unemployment fell from 8% to 7%, but rose to 10% by end of 1978 + 13% rate of inflation

Question 7

Economic Problems- Oil Prices

Answer 7

Islamic rev. in Iran + fall of the Shah led to rising oil prices- $3 a barrel in 1973, $34 a barrel in 1979
June 1978, 58% of American petrol stations forced to close
Inflation doubled cost of living between 1968 and 1978

Question 8

Economic Problems- Response to Oil Crisis

Answer 8

Department of Energy succeeded in conserving domestic oil resources + reduction of fuel consumption
Promoted alternative sources of energy e.g solar power + a form of tax credit to manufacturers who made fuel-efficient products
But still spiralled- inflation at 13.8% during 1980

Question 9

Foreign Policy- Success

Answer 9

Mediated the Arab-Israeli conflict
Helped to produce Camp David peace agreement between Israel and Egypt
Oversaw the return of Panama Canal Zone from US to Panamanian control, crucial trade route

Question 10

Foreign Policy- Failures (Iran)

Answer 10

1978- Islamic fundamentalists overthrew pro-American shah of Iran + took 60 American hostages
Tried to negotiate their release + sent helicopters on an unsuccessful rescue mission (one broke, one lost)
Hostages recovered under Reagan

Question 11

Foreign Policy- Failures (Afghanistan)

Answer 11

December 1979, USSR invaded + occupied Afghanistan. Worsened US-USSR relations.
Carter responded by boycotting 1980 Moscow Olympic Games, 64 nations joined.
Only 38% of Americans approved of Carter’s foreign policy, in 1980 81% believed Carter was in serious trouble