Carter: The Outsider as President Pages: 1026-1031 Chapter 34 Section 3 Carter: The Outsider as President Pages: 1026-1031

Objectives 1. State why voters thought that Jimmy Carter was a different kind of politician. 2. Explain how President Carter’s handling of domestic issues caused some Americans to lose faith in his administration. 3. Contrast Carter’s foreign policy with Nixon’s and Ford’s. 4. Analyze how Carter weakened U.S.-Soviet relations, and relate how he helped achieve peace in the Middle East.

Activity Note the section’s title and think about why a politician might be labeled an outsider. Many politicians who run for office today depict themselves as outsiders.

The Election of 1976 1976: Republican Convention: President Ford narrowly won the nomination against Ronald Reagan from California. Ford chose senator Robert Dole from Kansas. Democratic Convention: the former governor Jimmy Carter won the nomination and he chose senator Walter Mondale of Minnesota as Vice-President.

Carter was a Washington D. C Carter was a Washington D.C. outsider and wasn’t involved in the Watergate scandal. Carter promised a new approach to government: “ I will never lie to you; I will never mislead you.” Carter felt that religion was his guiding principle towards politics. Carter narrowly won the election and on Inauguration Day the president and his family walked to the White House instead of riding in the limousine. This was to prove the point of an open presidency.

Carter was a president who had town meetings, radio call-ins, and television question and answer sessions.

Carter’s Domestic Agenda Carter in his first day gave unconditional pardon for Vietnam draft evaders. [ The Constitution gives the president the power to grant pardons. The framers of the Constitution regarded the power to grant pardons as a useful tool to end domestic unrest or rebellions. By offering pardons to rebel leaders, the president might effectively end violent conflict. The pardon power often has been used to heal the wounds of war. Pardons were granted to former Confederates after the Civil War, and following World War II President Truman pardoned some 1,500 people who had violated the nation’s draft laws. ]

Economic Policy Carter implemented tax cuts early in his presidency which reduced unemployment marginally. Inflation continued to rise even with voluntary wage and price controls. Carter told Congress in 1980, “There are no economic miracles waiting to be performed.”

Facing the Energy Crisis April, 1977: Carter had to deal with the rising cost of oil. He introduced a complex energy bill, which the public supported. By 1978, when the National Energy Act was passed very little of Carter’s proposals were left. The Department of Energy was created from the act. In 1979, a revolution in Iran created increase in oil prices and gasoline supplies were disappearing. Carter, asked for Americans to do the following: A. honor the 55 mph speed limit B. set thermostats no higher than 65 degrees C. limit unnecessary driving

March, 1979: Three Mile Island accident, a nuclear reactor failed in Pennsylvania and causing a melting of the reactor’s core. Over 100,000 people fled or evacuated the area. Carter argued that the U.S. needed nuclear energy and power plants cannot be shutdown.

A loss of faith “ I want to talk to you right now about a fundamental threat to American democracy ….In a nation that was once proud of hard work, strong families, close-knit communities, and our faith in God, too many of us now tend to worship self-indulgence[pampering] and consumption.” Jimmy Carter, July, 1979 People after his address when concerned over his leadership abilities, when saying that the nation had a spiritual emptiness. Americans were concerned over the disorder of his White House when he asked some of his cabinet members to resign.

A New Foreign Policy Carter was about human rights in his direction towards foreign policy. He was supportive about universal right to freedom from torture and unlawful detention. Many felt when you get involved with other countries domestic affairs that can lead to trouble. Panama Canal Treaties: this treaty gave canal operations to Panama by the year 2000. By turning over the canal would lead to better relationships with developing countries.

Africa: It was a competition between U. S Africa: It was a competition between U.S. and Soviet Union over independent states on the continent. Carter appointed Andrew Young, a former civil rights activist was ambassador to the United Nations. Apartheid: white minority ruled and the black majority had few rights. This policy of imperialism was condemned by Andrew Young.

Carter’s Foreign Policies Weakened relations with the Soviet Union Peace in the Middle East Event: The Soviet Union invades Afghanistan in December, 1979. Result: President Carter cut grain sales to the Soviets and announced the U.S. boycott of the Moscow Olympics. Event: In September 1978 Carter hosts meetings between Israel’s Menachem Begin and Egypt’s Anwar Sadat at Camp David. Result: Israel and Egypt sign the Camp David Accords, ending a 30-year state of war between the two countries.