1. President Jimmy Carter & the 1970s
Mr. Mize
President Jimmy Carter & the 1970s

2. Carter’s Challenges U.S. Inflation Foreign Policy
New Congressional Power
Viet Nam Syndrome

3. At Home – U.S.A.
By the end of the 1970s, interest rates on homes up 17%
Cost of a 30-year $100,000 mortgage up from $421 in the 1950s to $1,425 per month in 1970
High oil prices
US passenger cars averaged only 13.4 mpg;
Oil Crisis of 1979
shortages, lines at gas stations.

4. Viet Nam Syndrome

5. Carter Policies: “Dovish”
Human Rights
SALT II

6. Carter Policies: Hawkish
MX Missile
Trident D-5 Missile

7. Foreign Policy End US support for repressive regimes
Iran
Peace in Middle East
Camp David Accords

8. “Arc of Crisis”

9. Foreign Policy cont. Carter wants a peace in the holy lands
Asks Palestinians to meet with Israelis
Barriers: Israel won’t deal with the PLO unless it renounces its commitment to the destruction of Israel;
Too many Issues
US domestic policy concerns
question of Israel’s boundaries and its settlements program

10. Camp David Accords Camp David, 1978 Meeting between Israel and Egypt
Egypt became the first Arab country to recognize Israel
Israel promised to return the Sinai Peninsula
Longest lasting Arab-Israeli peace agreement

11. Iranian Revolution
Iran’s “Shah” (king) was overthrown in Iranian Revolution
US installs Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi in power, 1953
Shah’s regime repressive, closely tied to the west
US reliant on Iran for oil and support for its Middle Eastern goals
Carter supports the Shah, who is overthrown in 1979
US allows Shah to come to USA = Iranians mad at USA

12. Iranian Revolution cont.
Iranian rebels took the US Embassy and held 66 people hostage (14 would be released later), November 1979
Plan was to occupy the Embassy for a few days as a symbolic gesture
American media hyped the taking of Embassy personnel
Extremely nationalistic response of the American people; unease with government powerlessness; yellow ribbons

13. November 4, 1979

14. Iranian Revolution cont.
Carter’s efforts to negotiate, enforce the release of the hostages
Failed rescue effort, April, 1980 leaves 8 U.S. soldiers dead
US used Algeria to facilitate negotiations
USA agreed not to overthrow the new regime in Iran
Ayatollah Khomeni becomes new leader
Hostages released just after Reagan’s oath of office

15. Rescue Mission April 1980

16. Congressional Power War Powers Resolution 1973
Limits President’s Powers to send troops into action without approval of Congress

17. Carter Approval Ratings

18. 1980 Elections

19. Carter’s Image Then

20. Carter’s Image Today