Changes

==Presidency (1977-1981)==

==Presidency (1977-1981)==

[[Image:Carter1977.jpg‎|thumb|250px|left|President Carter's inauguration, 01/20/77]]On taking office Carter proposed radical energy programs, redistributive tax reform, public campaign financing, a consumer protection agency (that Ralph Nader had long championed), labor law reform, and enactment of the [[Equal Rights Amendment]].  He fought with fellow Democrats in [[Congress]] and achieved little or nothing.  Meanwhile, "stagflation" hit the economy hard, as energy shortages, slow growth, escalating inflation and very high interest rates sapped the economy.

[[Image:Carter1977.jpg‎|thumb|250px|right|President Carter's inauguration, 01/20/77]]On taking office Carter proposed radical energy programs, redistributive tax reform, public campaign financing, a consumer protection agency (that Ralph Nader had long championed), labor law reform, and enactment of the [[Equal Rights Amendment]].  He fought with fellow Democrats in [[Congress]] and achieved little or nothing.  Meanwhile, "stagflation" hit the economy hard, as energy shortages, slow growth, escalating inflation and very high interest rates sapped the economy.

It was worse in foreign affairs. Carter did broker a temporary peace in the Middle East, but was forced to abandon détente when the Russians began to exploit American weaknesses around the globe. Carter was forced to restart the [[Cold War]] when the Soviets invaded Afghanistan in 1979, but his belated actions validated the complaints of conservatives that he offered too little too late. Meanwhile, the nation was humiliated in [[Iran]], where militants held American diplomats captive for 444 days, while Carter proved helpless.

It was worse in foreign affairs. Carter did broker a temporary peace in the Middle East, but was forced to abandon détente when the Russians began to exploit American weaknesses around the globe. Carter was forced to restart the [[Cold War]] when the Soviets invaded Afghanistan in 1979, but his belated actions validated the complaints of conservatives that he offered too little too late. Meanwhile, the nation was humiliated in [[Iran]], where militants held American diplomats captive for 444 days, while Carter proved helpless.

Carter was elected by campaigning on the Misery Index - adding the [[inflation]] rate and [[unemployment]] rate together, which stood at 13.4%. By 1980 the Misery index stood at 21%. By 1992, after "twelve years of neglect," the Misery Index stood at 9.2%.

Carter was elected by campaigning on the Misery Index - adding the [[inflation]] rate and [[unemployment]] rate together, which stood at 13.4%. By 1980 the Misery index stood at 21%. By 1992, after "twelve years of neglect," the Misery Index stood at 9.2%.

 

===Administration===

===Administration===

 

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=== Foreign Policy ===

=== Foreign Policy ===

In contrast to Carter's economic policies which were uncertain and left the public confused, his foreign policy was more clearly defined, although foreign policy is where Jimmy Carter suffered his worst defeats. In his inaugural speech he stated that "our commitment to human rights must be absolute." He singled out the [[Soviet Union]] as a violator of human rights and strongly condemned the country for arresting its citizens for political protests. However, he was criticized for not doing enough to promote his proclaimed human rights foreign policy stance in his administration, such as continuing to support the Indonesian government even while it was implicated in the commission of acts of genocide in the occupation of [[East Timor]].  

In contrast to Carter's economic policies which were uncertain and left the public confused, his foreign policy was more clearly defined, although foreign policy is where Jimmy Carter suffered his worst defeats. In his inaugural speech he stated that "our commitment to human rights must be absolute." He singled out the [[Soviet Union]] as a violator of human rights and strongly condemned the country for arresting its citizens for political protests. However, he was criticized for not doing enough to promote his proclaimed human rights foreign policy stance in his administration, such as continuing to support the Indonesian government even while it was implicated in the commission of acts of genocide in the occupation of [[East Timor]].  

=== Camp David Accords ===

=== Camp David Accords ===

Carter's greatest and arguably only triumph while in office was a historic peace [[treaty]] known as the Camp David Peace Accords, between [[Israel]] and [[Egypt]], two nations that had been bitter enemies for decades. [[Image:Iran1979.jpg|thumb|300px|left|Blindfolded American hostages being paraded before the public by their Iranian captors, November 5, 1979.]] The treaty was formally signed in 1979, with most Middle Eastern countries opposed to it.

Carter's greatest and arguably only triumph while in office was a historic peace [[treaty]] known as the Camp David Peace Accords, between [[Israel]] and [[Egypt]], two nations that had been bitter enemies for decades. The treaty was formally signed in 1979, with most Middle Eastern countries opposed to it.

=== Iran Hostage Crisis ===

=== Iran Hostage Crisis ===

{{Main|Iran Hostage Crisis}}

{{Main|Iran Hostage Crisis}}

In 1979, a new radical [[Islamic]] regime lead by [[Ayatollah Khomeini]] in [[Iran]] overthrew America's close ally Shah. Thousands of modernizers were arrested, expelled or executed. This had partially been Carter's fault, as in February of that year, when asked whether the Shah would survive the current turmoil, Carter gave an ambiguously worded response stating the following: "I don’t know. I hope so. This is something that is in the hands of the people of Iran. We have never had any intention and don’t have any intention of trying to intercede in the internal political affairs of Iran…. We personally prefer that the Shah maintain a major role in the government, but that’s a decision for the Iranian people to make." This statement ultimately emboldened the radicals due to it essentially communicating that America won't back up its ally.<ref>https://www.weeklystandard.com/double-duped-carter-from-soviet-communism-to-radical-islam/article/496983</ref><ref>https://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2011/02/19/big-dupes-carter-and-obama-egypt-and-iran/</ref> In addition, he also spent a lot of time sabotaging the Shah of Iran's chances due to the latter's anti-Human Rights elements, as "human rights" was a major platform for Carter as well as overall being [[Taqiyya|duped]] by the Ayatollah Khomeini.<ref>https://www.theblaze.com/contributions/35-years-ago-an-iranian-revolution-thanks-to-jimmy-carter</ref><ref>https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2007/08/jimmy_carters_human_rights_dis.html</ref><ref>https://nypost.com/2016/06/04/how-ayatollah-khomeini-suckered-jimmy-carter/</ref> In November 1979 student revolutionaries stormed into the American embassy in [[Tehran]] and captured 52 United States diplomats as hostages. The US seized all Iranian assets and tried to bargain, a process that dragged on for 444 days. Despite pressure to use military action Carter tried to negotiate with Iran, which proved to be unsuccessful. In April 1980 President Carter approved a rescue attempt (over the opposition of [[Secretary of State]] [[Cyrus Vance, Sr.]]). To the nations dismay, the attempt failed when several helicopters malfunctioned. Eight serviceman died in the accident. Carter's negotiations with Iran continued throughout 1980. Ironically, the hostages were released just after Carter left office on January 20, 1981, as they were fearful of what President Reagan might do.

In 1979, a new radical [[Islamic]] regime lead by [[Ayatollah Khomeini]] in [[Iran]] overthrew America's close ally Shah. Thousands of modernizers were arrested, expelled or executed. This had partially been Carter's fault, as in February of that year, when asked whether the Shah would survive the current turmoil, Carter gave an ambiguously worded response stating the following: "I don’t know. I hope so. This is something that is in the hands of the people of Iran. We have never had any intention and don’t have any intention of trying to intercede in the internal political affairs of Iran…. We personally prefer that the Shah maintain a major role in the government, but that’s a decision for the Iranian people to make." This statement ultimately emboldened the radicals due to it essentially communicating that America won't back up its ally.<ref>https://www.weeklystandard.com/double-duped-carter-from-soviet-communism-to-radical-islam/article/496983</ref><ref>https://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2011/02/19/big-dupes-carter-and-obama-egypt-and-iran/</ref> In addition, he also spent a lot of time sabotaging the Shah of Iran's chances due to the latter's anti-Human Rights elements, as "human rights" was a major platform for Carter as well as overall being [[Taqiyya|duped]] by the Ayatollah Khomeini.<ref>https://www.theblaze.com/contributions/35-years-ago-an-iranian-revolution-thanks-to-jimmy-carter</ref><ref>https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2007/08/jimmy_carters_human_rights_dis.html</ref><ref>https://nypost.com/2016/06/04/how-ayatollah-khomeini-suckered-jimmy-carter/</ref> In November 1979 student revolutionaries stormed into the American embassy in [[Tehran]] and captured 52 United States diplomats as hostages. The US seized all Iranian assets and tried to bargain, a process that dragged on for 444 days. Despite pressure to use military action Carter tried to negotiate with Iran, which proved to be unsuccessful. In April 1980 President Carter approved a rescue attempt (over the opposition of [[Secretary of State]] [[Cyrus Vance, Sr.]]). To the nations dismay, the attempt failed when several helicopters malfunctioned. Eight serviceman died in the accident. Carter's negotiations with Iran continued throughout 1980. Ironically, the hostages were released just after Carter left office on January 20, 1981, as they were fearful of what President Reagan might do.