Jimmy Carter on Principles & Values President of the U.S., 1977-1981

What we fought for globally has become fragile at home

We must resist polarization around politics

2005: Time's "Partners of the Year" with George H.W. Bush

Asked Trump for $5 million for Carter Presidential Library

But Carter was one of the first people to call Trump to congratulate him on his election victory in 2016 (a gesture Trump clearly appreciated).

In 2016, the Carters voted for Bernie Sanders and not Hillary Clinton in the Democratic primary, and they do not feel much warmth toward the Obamas. They were clearly disappointed that the Obamas had not sought their advice on leading effective postpresidential lives, and Carter felt that Obama did not pay him the proper respect when he was president.

1976: First presidential nominee to openly discuss faith

The result was a close Democratic victory and an electoral map that was more regional than ideological.

A major benefit of Carter's faith-friendly, Southern-centered strategy was a strong Democratic showing among theologically conservative Protestants. Exit polling by religion was not as specific as it later became, but most analysts believe Carter won between 60 and 65% of Bible-believing white Protestant voters.

1980: Conceded before CA polls closed; hurting down-ballot

Ludicrous exit polls showing Kerry winning in Florida by 110% were soon being cited by liberals as proof that Bush stole the election. Contributing to the conspiracy theories was the fact that Mitofsky's exit polls in other countries have always been accurate. In other countries, such as Mexico and Russia, everyone answers the exit polls. In the US, he said, about half of those leaving polling places refused to participate in exit polls.

1979 "Malaise speech": a crisis of our national will

Carter lectured the people of the nation on their contributions to what he called "a fundamental threat to American democracy." This contribution, he declared, was a collapse of confidence and of faith, in government and in themselves.

"It is a crisis that strikes at the very heart and soul and spirit of our national will," Carter intoned. "We can see this crisis in the growing doubt about the meaning of our own lives and in the loss of a unity of purpose. The erosion of our confidence in the future is threatening to destroy the social and political fabric of America."

This would become famous as Carter's "malaise" speech, although the president did not use that word in his remarks. It was a speech born of panic: the product of a ten-day "domestic summit meeting." It was in the aftershocks of this speech that I began thinking seriously about running for the presidency in 1980.

1970s: Too many of us worship self-indulgence & consumption

Carter missed the real cause of America's problems. Government was trying to do too much. Government becomes "incapable of acting" when it attempts to serve a large number of particular needs rather than promoting the general welfare. When the federal government began to involve itself in planning specific aspects of America's culture and economy, it was inevitable there would be destructive and costly consequences.

Discourteous & dismissive of White House staff

At the same time, Carter tried to project an image of himself as man of the people by carrying his own luggage when traveling. But that was often for show. As a candidate in 1976, Carter would carry his own bags when the press was around but ask the Secret Service to carry them the rest of the time. As president, says a Secret Service agent: "When he was traveling, he would roll up his sleeves and carry his bag over his shoulder, but it was empty. He wanted people to think he was carrying his own bag."

1976: blacks in administration reflected support at polls

He wasn't just talking about at the federal level [but also about blacks in local politics, and the recently formed Congressional Black Caucus, and 1972's first National Black Political Convention.]

OpEd: Much better after presidency than he did during term

We had a wonderful conversation prior to getting to his point, which, was, would I consider making a $50 million contribution to the Jimmy Carter Library? Here was a man that I had not supported, had not voted for, and yet he was in my office asking for a $50 million contribution! I said to myself, and told the story many times, that Jimmy Carter, despite his image to the contrary, had an ability to think big. That's why he ran for President and others did not. As it turned out, Jimmy Carter is one of the few people who did a much better job after his Presidential term than he did during it.

OpEd: Ran when voters were fed up, and welcomed an outsider

Carter came to Washington as the ultimate outsider. He served just one term as governor of Georgia, and after he left office in January 1975, he spent the next 22 months running for president. At the time I was working on The Washington Post as the junior man on the paper's national staff. When Carter formally declared for president, I drew the assignment. So unlikely a candidate was Carter that hardly any other reporters showed up, and the Post put my story on the shipping page.

He began with just 2% national name recognition. But Carter had the fortune to run in a year when the voters were fed up with Washington and welcomed a complete outsider candidate. Like other outsiders, Carter also ran against Congress. But unlike successful presidents, he failed to build bridges to the congressional leadership once he assumed office.

1979 "Malaise" speech: Crisis of confidence threatens nation

"I want to speak to you first tonight about a subject even more serious than energy or inflation," he began his speech of July 15, 1979. "I want to talk to you right now about a fundamental threat to American democracy. The threat is nearly invisible in ordinary ways. It is a crisis of confidence. It is a crisis that strikes at the very heart and soul and spirit of our national will We can see this crisis in the growing doubt about the meaning of our own lives and in the loss of a unity or purpose for our nation."

Many commentators felt that the president was trying to deflect blame for failed policies onto the people. Voters were less worried about "the meaning of their own lives" than the price of oil. Three days later, Carter asked for the resignation of his entire cabinet, a move calculated to suggest a fresh start but one that conveyed panic.

OpEd: ignored Congress since his mandate was from the people

In truth, Carter was inevitable well before Election Day. But from almost the day after, Carter began battling with Congress. There were always fights between Hamilton Jordan, Carter's chief of staff, and the Democrats. Always, Jordan actually thought Carter could govern while ignoring the House of Representatives. His attitude made for a very rough honeymoon. How do you, as president, dismiss one half of Congress that your own party controls? I guess the explanation was that Carter was really a naval officer and not a politician. Moreover, Carter thought his mandate came from the American electorate, not the liberal-leaning Democratic leadership in the House, a belief that had some truth to it.

2002: won Nobel Peace Prize for post-presidential work

My faith goes beyond religion and requires work

Fundamentalist politicians divide our country

Fundamentalists have become increasingly influential in both religion and government, and have managed to change the nuances and subtleties of historic debate into black-and-white rigidities and the personal derogation of those who dare to disagree. At the same time, these religious and political conservatives have melded their efforts, bridging the formerly respected separation of church and state. This has empowered a group of influential "neoconservatives," who have been able to implement their long-frustrated philosophy in both domestic & foreign policy.

The influence of these various trends poses a threat to many of our nation's historic customs and moral commitments, both in government and in houses of worship.

Challenging times for those shaped by religious faith

"There is a remarkable trend toward fundamentalism in all religions--including the different denominations of Christianity as well as Hinduism, Judaism, and Islam. Increasingly, true believers are inclined to begin a process of deciding: 'Since I am aligned with God, I am superior and my beliefs should prevail, and anyone who disagrees with me is inherently wrong,' and the next step is 'inherently inferior.' The ultimate step is 'subhuman,' and then their lives are not significant. That tendency has created, throughout the world, intense religious conflicts."

OpEd: 1980 presidential debate lost election

Until that point--people forget this today--the race was neck-and-neck. The economy, to be sure, was in terrible shape: The so-called "misery index" was in double digits, interest rates were as high as 15%.

But his most brilliant move was the way he dealt with Carter's attempt to attack him as a dangerous ideologue. When Carter suggested that Reagan had tried to discontinue Medicare, he saw his chance to turn the tide--to paint Carter, for once, as the guy who kept getting things wrong. Turning from the camera, he looked directly at the president, and laughed, "There you go again..." That was it. Carter looked like a fool. And Reagan looked like an indulgent storeowner, wondering whether this fellow he'd hired was really up to the job after all.

Zell Miller has betrayed our trust

Show decency to switch party for philosophical differences

Zell Miller also said Kerry was an authentic American hero

Zell Miller has chosen lies and obfuscation over the truth

Trust is at the very heart of our democracy

Our decency, compassion, and common sense will prevail

Openly a Born-Again Christian

[The evangelical community] wanted their president to be a godly man. Jimmy Carter had talked about being born again but had disappointed most evangelicals. Though Carter at least made faith in office fashionable, Ronald Reagan was their true hero.

This new secular orientation prevailed for a season but was already in transition before George W. Bush assumed the presidency. Jimmy Carter's openness about being born again started the change, and the shift continued under Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton, both of whom were outspoken about their personal faith and the need for religion in public life.

His mother and grandson both served in Peace Corps

Jason lived and worked in an isolated and poverty-stricken community among people struggling to outgrow the ravages of apartheid, but he was always just a few miles or computer strokes away from an advanced and prosperous 1st world society.

Jason's experiences were remarkably similar to those of Lillian Carter, who felt that she had completed her life's work as a mother. She responded to a TV recruitment call for Peace Corps volunteers, with "Age is no limit!" flashing across the screen, and decided to seek a final opportunity for challenge and adventure. She asked to go where people had dark skin, were poor, and needed medical care.

Preconditions for fair elections not present in 2000 Florida

1. That voters are able to understand the ballot procedures and the ballots themselves.
2. Voters have equal rights to have their votes counted.
3. There is a central commission in the country to resolve election disputes.

Grew up in Archery, GA; no longer exists except for church

190 miles west of Savannah, Plains is located exactly 120 miles due south of Atlanta. It is surrounded by productive farms, and seems to have citizens who are exceptionally inclined to resist moving away to distant places.

Archery, on the other hand, was never quite a real town. Except for the church, which is still vibrant and active, all the rest is gone.

Former President criticizes Clinton’s last-minute pardons

1975 campaign promise: I'll never lie to you

In the days and weeks that followed, Carter kept saying it, and he went further. "I'll never mislead you," he promised. He told audiences if he did lie or mislead, they should not support him. They should vote for someone else.

Carter's mother, Miss Lillian, told him it was a mistake to make such a bold promise. Small, white lies were a part of life.

But Carter saw the no-lie pledge was recruiting fervent supporters. It was the backbone of the rationale for his candidacy. He was not Nixon. He was not a lawyer. He had never held office in Washington--the seat of a government few any longer trusted. He as an outsider, and he would tell the truth--always.

Born into a privileged world surrounded by poverty

Part of him was naval officer, Sunday-school teacher, scholar, engineer, liberal, businessman, conservative. Primarily, he was a politician. And those of us who covered him found him the most complex and interesting of our time. His enemies said he was consumed with selfish ambition, a ruthless opportunist who would change his politics to further his climb to the top. Yet his ambition was not only for himself, but for others. He said to me once, “I feel like I have a certain amount of talent and ability and one life to live and I don’t want to waste it. I’d like it to be meaningful to myself and the people around me.”

Leapfrogged liberalism; focused on managing bureaucracy

Above all, he was misunderstood. Being Southern, he would be, and being rural Southern, he would be even more so. Being a born-again Bible-toting Baptist in an ever more Godless world did not help. Snobbism accounted for part of the lack of understanding. And yet, on November 2, 1976, James Earl Carter, Jr., was elected the 39th President of the United States.

Broad appeal by straddling key issues

New South: led party away from race-based conservatism

Asked Donald Trump for $5M for Jimmy Carter Library

But that experience taught me something. Until then, I'd never understood how Jimmy Carter became president. The answer is that as poorly qualified as he was for the job, Jimmy Carter had the nerve, the guts, the balls, to ask for something extraordinary. That ability above all helped him get elected president. But then, of course, the American people caught on pretty quickly that Carter couldn't do the job, and he lost in a landslide when he ran for reelection.

Withdrew from Moscow Olympics to protest Afghan invasion

For the Soviet Union, the Moscow Olympics was much more than a sporting event. They saw it as a triumph for communism & a vivid demonstration to other nations of the world that the Soviets represented the true spirit of the ancient Olympics. For several years, thousands of athletes and many businesses and communications firms had already committed themselves to participate. To interrupt all this preparation would be a serious step indeed.

I announced our decision about the Moscow Olympics: We would send a message to government leaders in the world, stating that unless Soviets withdrew their troops from Afghanistan within a month there should be no participation in the Moscow games.

For the first time in a generation, we face no crisis

For the first time in a generation, we are not haunted by a major international crisis or by domestic turmoil, and we now have a rare and a priceless opportunity to address persistent problems and burdens which come to us as a nation-quietly and steadily getting worse over the years.

We here in Washington must move away from crisis management, and we must establish clear goals for the future-immediate and the distant future--which will let us work together and not in conflict. Never again should we neglect a growing crisis like the shortage of energy, where further delay will only lead to more harsh and painful solutions.

To Southerners, presidency represented political redemption

My greatest strength is that I am an ordinary man

A Government As Good As Its People

Put the people and US allies back into foreign policy debate

FORD: Governor Carter indicated that he wanted to cut the defense budget by $15 billion. [One analyst] said if we cut defense by $5 billion, we will have to cut military personnel by 250,000, civilian personnel by 100,000, jobs in America by 100,000. We would have to reduce our naval construction program, and the research and development for the Army, the Navy, the Air Force and Marines by 8 percent. We would have to close twenty military bases.

Return to values of Constitution and be open with the people

CARTER: I've seen the hurt in the aftermath of Vietnam and Cambodia, Chile, Pakistan, Angola and Watergate. We were proud of our country, its moral integrity, what our Constitution stands for. I believe there's no limit on what we can be if we can harness the meaning of the Constitution. Every time we've made a mistake in foreign affairs, it's because the people have been excluded.

Constitution & Bill of Rights should guide foreign policy

Return to values to regain role as world's moral beacon

The greatness of America can be restored

Lusted in his heart & feels forgiven by God

Oct. 1975: Choice of 1% of voters; others said, "Jimmy Who?"

Nothing wrong with ethnic purity in neighborhoods

The networks proceeded to grill Carter as to exactly what he meant by "ethnic purity." The flak that resulted looked as if it might have serious effects on Carter's campaign. The candidate's main black supporter, Andrew Young, called the phrase a "disaster". White Northern liberals who had suspected Carter of being a "scrubbed over" Wallace all along produced a chorus of "I-told-you-so's."