Jimmy Carter on Technology President of the U.S., 1977-1981

Revitalize inner cities with $43B for transportation systems

CARTER: In 1976, everywhere I went the mayors and local officials were in despair about the rapidly deteriorating central cities of our Nation. We initiated a very fine urban renewal program, working with the mayors, the Governors, and other interested officials. This has been a very successful effort. We now are planning to continue the revitalization program with increased commitments of rapid transit, mass transit. Under the windfall profits tax, we expect to spend about $43 billion in the next 10 years to rebuild the transportation systems of our country. We also are pursuing housing programs. We've had a 73% increase in the allotment of Federal funds for improved education. These are the kinds of efforts [we've done] in the central cities that had been deteriorating so rapidly in the past.

Vetoed nuclear breeder reactors but supported research

This particular veto was not challenged, and Congress later deleted the item from the authorization bill, but by other means the Tennessee congressional delegation and some supporters of the nuclear power industry still managed to sustain a breath of life in the project throughout my term. I was determined that the prototype plant would not be built, but because of our uncertain energy future, I was willing to continue research in all kinds of nuclear technology.