The Road to Hell Is The Road to Hell Is Paved With Good Paved With Good

IntentionsIntentions

The Carter The Carter AdministrationAdministration

Jimmy CarterJimmy CarterPolitical outsider Political outsider

and relative rookie and relative rookie (2 x’s Georgia state (2 x’s Georgia state house, 1x Gov.)house, 1x Gov.)

Born Again Born Again Christian (appealed Christian (appealed to mistrustful to mistrustful nation)nation)

Navy veteran (post Navy veteran (post WWII)WWII)

Peanut FarmerPeanut Farmer

Carter In OfficeCarter In OfficeWins close electionWins close election

–Backlash against Backlash against WatergateWatergate

Determined to be Determined to be “citizens president”“citizens president”–Walks inaugural Walks inaugural route, dresses in route, dresses in common clothing, common clothing, carries own thingscarries own things

First Steps in OfficeFirst Steps in OfficePardons draft Pardons draft

dodgers from dodgers from ‘Nam‘Nam–Angers the Silent Angers the Silent MajorityMajority

Gives Chrysler Gives Chrysler federal bailout to federal bailout to survive oil crisis survive oil crisis –Familiar???Familiar???

The Economy DeclinesThe Economy DeclinesPrice of oil per Price of oil per

barrel goes from barrel goes from +/-$40 in 1976 to +/-$40 in 1976 to +/-$80 in 1980+/-$80 in 1980

Shortages in fuel Shortages in fuel & heating oil & heating oil cause factory & cause factory & business closingsbusiness closings–Americans Americans freeze in homes freeze in homes during brutal during brutal winters of 1976-winters of 1976-19781978

A Weak & Disastrous A Weak & Disastrous ResponseResponseCarter raises taxes, Carter raises taxes,

tells US to conservetells US to conservePRICE CONTROLS!!!PRICE CONTROLS!!! Inflation on the Rise, he Inflation on the Rise, he

raises interest ratesraises interest rates–US businesses hurt = US businesses hurt = more unemploymentmore unemployment

A “Nice guy outsider”, A “Nice guy outsider”, he’s largely ineffectivehe’s largely ineffective

Foreign Policy WoesForeign Policy WoesAnnounces US Announces US

policy will be policy will be guided by human guided by human rights interestsrights interests–Direct challenge Direct challenge to communismto communism

–Undercuts spirit Undercuts spirit of Détente with of Détente with the Soviets…the Soviets…

Soviets Invade AfghanistanSoviets Invade AfghanistanCarter withdraws Carter withdraws

from SALT II, from SALT II, imposes imposes sanctions on sanctions on trade & boycotts trade & boycotts 1980 Moscow 1980 Moscow OlympicsOlympics

Communism Communism begins new era of begins new era of expansion…expansion…

US Changes Stance Towards US Changes Stance Towards DictatorsDictators

Loses Influence in Central AmericaLoses Influence in Central AmericaNicaragua – Carter Nicaragua – Carter

cuts US support to cuts US support to ruling Somoza family.ruling Somoza family.

Sandinista rebels Sandinista rebels overthrow the dictator, overthrow the dictator, install far leftist govn’tinstall far leftist govn’t–Socialism growing in Socialism growing in Central America, Asia Central America, Asia Africa, S. AmericaAfrica, S. America

Castro Pulls a Quick One & Castro Pulls a Quick One & GigglesGiggles

Castro & Carter Castro & Carter negotiate deal to let negotiate deal to let Cuban political Cuban political exiles leave Cuba for exiles leave Cuba for the US (Mariel the US (Mariel Boatlift)Boatlift)–Castro empties his Castro empties his prisons into the USprisons into the US

–Movie “Scarface”Movie “Scarface”

US Pulls OutUS Pulls Out of Panama of Panama

Panama broke away Panama broke away from Columbia in US from Columbia in US aided revolution in aided revolution in 1903 (T. Roosevelt)1903 (T. Roosevelt)–US given canal US given canal zone for its rolezone for its role

Jimmy Carter Jimmy Carter negotiated to return negotiated to return canal to canal to Panamanian control Panamanian control in 1999in 1999

A Bright SpotA Bright SpotThe Camp David The Camp David

AccordsAccordsEgypt, the most Egypt, the most powerful Arab state, powerful Arab state, had led attacks had led attacks against US against US supported Israel supported Israel since 1948since 1948

Carter brokers deal, Carter brokers deal, Israel gives Sinai Israel gives Sinai Peninsula for Peninsula for Egyptian PeaceEgyptian Peace

Anwar Sadat of Egypt, Jimmy Carter and

Menachem Begin of Israel

Iran: The Collapse Iran: The Collapse CompleteCompleteUS ally, Shah of US ally, Shah of

Iran, was hated by Iran, was hated by the lower classesthe lower classes– In US for cancer In US for cancer treatmenttreatment

Religious exile, Religious exile, Ayatollah Khomeini, Ayatollah Khomeini, returned & led a returned & led a fundamentalist fundamentalist coup coup

Iranian Coup Becomes US Iranian Coup Becomes US CrisisCrisis

Khomeini demands Khomeini demands US return Shah for US return Shah for trial (to be killed)trial (to be killed)–US refusesUS refuses

US embassy US embassy stormed by stormed by enraged Iraniansenraged Iranians–Embassy workers Embassy workers held for 444 daysheld for 444 days

A Prisoner In the White A Prisoner In the White HouseHouse

Carter orders Carter orders Special Forces to Special Forces to save captives save captives (Eagle Claw)(Eagle Claw)–Helicopters crash Helicopters crash in a desert sand in a desert sand stormstorm

Ayatollah seen as Ayatollah seen as victorious, US weakvictorious, US weak

Add in the Environmental Add in the Environmental ProblemsProblems

The Malaise Speech - 1979The Malaise Speech - 1979Effort to rally sour Effort to rally sour

American moodAmerican moodClaims we are all Claims we are all

glum and down in the glum and down in the dumps, but could be dumps, but could be great againgreat again–Seen as desperate, Seen as desperate, negative & negative & defeatistdefeatist

–Rallies Republicans.Rallies Republicans.