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'''Jimmy Carter''' (formally James Earl Carter, Jr., born 1924) was the 39th [[President of the United States of America]], defeating Republican [[Gerald Ford]] in 1976. Carter was a [[Democrat]] who served from 1977-1981, after being a one-term Governor of [[Georgia]]. Carter was defeated for reelection in 1980 by [[Ronald Reagan]].
'''Jimmy Carter''' (formally James Earl Carter, Jr., born 1924) was the 39th [[President of the United States of America]], defeating Republican [[Gerald Ford]] in 1976. Carter was a [[Democrat]] who served from 1977-1981, after being a one-term Governor of [[Georgia]]. Carter was defeated for reelection in 1980 by [[Ronald Reagan]].
Coming out of nowhere, Carter promised a restoration of honesty to Washington, and built a coalition that included most of the South, thanks to his strong support among blacks and his considerable support (in 1976 only) among fellow white Baptists.
Coming out of nowhere, Carter promised a restoration of honesty to Washington, and built a coalition that included most of the South, thanks to his strong support among blacks and his considerable support (in 1976 only) among fellow white Baptists. Carter's failures in foreign and domestic policies led to the landslide election of [[Ronald Reagan]] in 1980 as the nation moved sharply to the right.
Carter's failures in foreign and domestic policies led to the landslide election of [[Ronald Reagan]] in 1980 as the nation moved sharply to the right.
In a October 2000 survey of 132 prominent professors of history, law, and political science, Carter's presidency was rated in the "Below Average" group; he ranked 30th, with a mean score of 2.47 out of 5.00.<ref>''Presidential Leadership: Rating the Best and the Worst in the White House'' (Wall Street Journal Book, 2004)</ref> This survey, sponsored by the ''Wall Street Journal'' and the conservative Federalist Society, ranked Carter ahead of Richard Nixon, and below George H.W. Bush.
In a October 2000 survey of 132 prominent professors of history, law, and political science, Carter's presidency was rated in the "Below Average" group; he ranked 30th, with a mean score of 2.47 out of 5.00.<ref>''Presidential Leadership: Rating the Best and the Worst in the White House'' (Wall Street Journal Book, 2004)</ref> This survey, sponsored by the ''Wall Street Journal'' and the conservative Federalist Society, ranked Carter ahead of Richard Nixon, and below George H.W. Bush.
Carter has been unusually active as an ex-president, serving as an election monitor in many emerging democracies, working with [[Habitat for Humanity]], and as a self-proclaimed "peace advocate", was recognized with the [[Nobel Prize|Nobel Peace Prize]]. In recent years, he has become very controversial because of his positions and statements hostile to [[Israel]].
Carter has been unusually active as an ex-president, serving as an election monitor in many emerging democracies, working with [[Habitat for Humanity]], and as a self-proclaimed "peace advocate", was recognized with the [[Nobel Prize|Nobel Peace Prize]]. In recent years, he has become very controversial because of his positions and statements hostile to Israel.
==Early Life==
==Early Life==
==Presidency (1977-1981)==
==Presidency (1977-1981)==
[[Image:Carter1977.jpg|thumb|250px|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 the liberal 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|President Carter's inauguration, 01/20/77]]
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.
[[Image:000carter.jpg|thumb|400px|]]
===Administration===
===Administration===
=== Economic Crisis ===
=== Economic Crisis ===
Carter inherited a [[recession]] when taking office. First he tried to reduce unemployment by both increasing government spending and cutting [[tax]]es. However, when [[inflation]] skyrocketed in 1978 he changed his mind. He delayed tax cuts and vetoed the spending programs that he himself proposed to the [[Congress]]. Carter then tried to ease inflation by reducing [[money]] supply and raising [[interest rates]]. All of his efforts proved to be unsuccessful. Inflation and interest rates soon reached their highest levels since [[World War II]].
The rapid change in interest rates led to disintermediation of bank deposits, which sowed the seeds of the Savings and Loan crisis. Investments in fixed income were becoming less valuable. Holders of both bonds, and pensions being paid to retired people had their life savings wiped out. The stagnant growth of the economy (causing unemployment), in combination with a high rate of inflation, has often been called stagflation, an unprecedented situation in American economics. By 1979, public opinion polls had Carter's popularity lower then [[Richard Nixon]]'s during Watergate, partly because of his inexperience and difficulties working with [[Congress]].
The rapid change in interest rates led to disintermediation of bank deposits, which sowed the seeds of the Savings and Loan crisis. Investments in fixed income were becoming less valuable. Holders of both bonds, and pensions being paid to retired people had their life savings wiped out. The stagnant growth of the economy (causing unemployment), in combination with a high rate of inflation, has often been called stagflation, an unprecedented situation in American economics. By 1979, public [[Image:000.carteraddress.jpg|thumb|right|300px|President Carter's malaise speech, July 15, 1979]]opinion polls had Carter's popularity lower then [[Richard Nixon]]'s during Watergate, partly because of his inexperience and difficulties working with [[Congress]].
=== Energy Crisis ===
=== Energy Crisis ===
Carter proposed a national energy program to conserve [[oil]] and promote the use of coal and renewable energy sources. He also persuaded Congress to create the Department of Energy, and asked Americans to personally reduce their energy consumption. Although oil companies were insisting on deregulation of the energy industry, Carter advocated a "windfall profits tax" to prevent oil companies from overcharging consumers. Carter's plan did not solve the country's energy crisis. In the summer of 1979 a major oil shortage in the [[United States]] took place because of instability in the middle east. After increasing pressure to act, Carter gave several televised address' where he complained that there was a "crisis of confidence that had struck at the very heart and soul of out national will." Although Carter meant the speech to be a timely warning, many Americans interpreted it as President Carter blaming the public for his failures.
Carter proposed a national energy program to conserve [[oil]] and promote the use of coal and renewable energy sources. He also persuaded Congress to create the Department of Energy, and asked Americans to personally reduce their energy consumption. Although oil companies were insisting on deregulation of the energy industry, Carter advocated a "windfall profits tax" to prevent oil companies from overcharging consumers. Carter's plan did not solve the country's energy crisis. In the summer of 1979 a major oil shortage in the [[United States]] took place because of instability in the middle east. After increasing pressure to act, Carter gave several televised address' where he complained that there was a "crisis of confidence that had struck at the very heart and soul of out national will." Although Carter meant the speech to be a timely warning, many Americans interpreted it as President Carter blaming the public for his failures. Critics dubbed it Carter's "malaise speech."
=== Foreign Policy ===
=== Foreign Policy ===