Republicans and Evangelicals | The Many Plagues of Jimmy Carter

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President Jimmy Carter's presidency (1977–1981) faced several major challenges, both domestically and internationally. One of the biggest domestic issues was the struggling U.S. economy. Carter inherited high inflation and unemployment, problems that worsened during his term. The country experienced "stagflation" — a combination of stagnant economic growth and high inflation. The energy crisis, marked by oil shortages and skyrocketing gas prices, further fueled economic instability. Though Carter promoted energy conservation and alternative energy development, many Americans viewed his efforts as inadequate or overly pessimistic.

Internationally, Carter faced major challenges in foreign policy. One of the most significant was the Iran Hostage Crisis, which began in November 1979 when 52 American diplomats and citizens were taken hostage at the U.S. Embassy in Tehran. The crisis lasted 444 days and was a major blow to Carter’s administration, especially after a failed rescue attempt. It deeply affected U.S. relations with Iran and damaged public confidence in Carter’s leadership. Though Carter did achieve a major diplomatic success with the Camp David Accords — a peace agreement between Egypt and Israel — the Iran Hostage Crisis ultimately overshadowed much of his foreign policy work.

Another major issue during Carter’s presidency was a perceived lack of effective leadership. Carter, known for his integrity and moral outlook, struggled to build strong relationships with Congress and the media. He often took a technocratic, detail-oriented approach to governing, which alienated many political allies. Critics saw his administration as indecisive and overly focused on long-term goals rather than immediate results. These perceptions contributed to a loss of public confidence and were a key factor in his defeat by Ronald Reagan in the 1980 presidential election.

The special guest for this episode is historian and author Rick Perlstein.

Sources:

• Phyllis Schlafly's debate with Buckley
• Reaganland by Rick Perlstein
• Slate story on Chisholm
• Video showing Carter's opposition to integrated busing
• Reagan by Bob Spitz
• The Invisible Bridge by Rick Perlstein
• These Truths by Jill Lepore
• Crash Course by Paul Ingrassia
• C-SPAN clip of Carter's malaise speech
• Who is Government? by Michael Lewis

Discussion Questions:

• What do you find appealing about Carter?
• How do voters sometimes use issues that are beyond a politician's control to judge them?
• Why would Carter and his predecessors choose to give the Panama Canal to Panama?
• How would an event like the hostage crisis impact an election?

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