1. The Road to Hell Is Paved With Good Intentions
The Carter Administration

2. Political outsider and relative rookie (2 x’s Georgia state house, 1x Gov.)
Born Again Christian (appealed to mistrustful nation)
Navy veteran (post WWII)
Peanut Farmer
Jimmy Carter

3. Carter In Office Wins close election Backlash against Watergate
Determined to be “citizens president”
Walks inaugural route, dresses in common clothing, carries own things

4. First Steps in Office Pardons draft dodgers from ‘Nam
Angers the Silent Majority
Gives Chrysler federal bailout to survive oil crisis
Familiar???

5. The Economy Declines
Price of oil per barrel goes from +/-$40 in 1976 to +/-$80 in 1980
Shortages in fuel & heating oil cause factory & business closings
Americans freeze in homes during brutal winters of

6. A Weak & Disastrous Response
Carter raises taxes, tells US to conserve
PRICE CONTROLS!!!
Inflation on the Rise, he raises interest rates
US businesses hurt = more unemployment
A “Nice guy outsider”, he’s largely ineffective

7. Foreign Policy Woes
Announces US policy will be guided by human rights interests
Direct challenge to communism
Undercuts spirit of Détente with the Soviets…

8. Soviets Invade Afghanistan
Carter withdraws from SALT II, imposes sanctions on trade & boycotts 1980 Moscow Olympics
Communism begins new era of expansion…

9. US Changes Stance Towards Dictators Loses Influence in Central America
Nicaragua – Carter cuts US support to ruling Somoza family.
Sandinista rebels overthrow the dictator, install far leftist govn’t
Socialism growing in Central America, Asia Africa, S. America

10. Castro Pulls a Quick One & Giggles
Castro & Carter negotiate deal to let Cuban political exiles leave Cuba for the US (Mariel Boatlift)
Castro empties his prisons into the US
Movie “Scarface”

11. Panama broke away from Columbia in US aided revolution in 1903 (T
Panama broke away from Columbia in US aided revolution in 1903 (T. Roosevelt)
US given canal zone for its role
Jimmy Carter negotiated to return canal to Panamanian control in 1999
US Pulls Out of Panama

12. A Bright Spot The Camp David Accords
Egypt, the most powerful Arab state, had led attacks against US supported Israel since 1948
Carter brokers deal, Israel gives Sinai Peninsula for Egyptian Peace
Anwar Sadat of Egypt, Jimmy Carter and Menachem Begin of Israel

13. Iran: The Collapse Complete
US ally, Shah of Iran, was hated by the lower classes
In US for cancer treatment
Religious exile, Ayatollah Khomeini, returned & led a fundamentalist coup

14. Iranian Coup Becomes US Crisis
Khomeini demands US return Shah for trial (to be killed)
US refuses
US embassy stormed by enraged Iranians
Embassy workers held for 444 days

15. A Prisoner In the White House
Carter orders Special Forces to save captives (Eagle Claw)
Helicopters crash in a desert sand storm
Ayatollah seen as victorious, US weak

16. Add in the Environmental Problems

17. The Malaise Speech - 1979 Effort to rally sour American mood
Claims we are all glum and down in the dumps, but could be great again
Seen as desperate, negative & defeatist
Rallies Republicans.