Opinions? Most regard him as a terrible president. Personally, I think he was set up with the Iranian hostage thing. This allowed the first true neocon talking head, Ronald Reagan, to be inserted into our government. Whatever shortcomings he may have had as president, he more than made up for as a humanitarian. This is a man who actually cares about other people. And, he's not afraid of standing up against Israel. That by itself makes him a rare bird in the modern climate of American politics. His last book really got under their skin. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6605934 http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/jc39.html http://www.cartercenter.org/ http://www.jimmycarterlibrary.org/ x
Carter was and is a good man, someone that had a deep, inbred sense of justice, and an authentic Christian, not someone who just used Christianity for show or for political ends, like his Republican predecessors did. I've read a couple of his books, and the unique thing about him is that he was not a particularly politically saavy person, and didn't want to be-and was one that didn't like the 'dirty' side of politics, and would have rather done what he perceived as being right, than to do what was politically expedient. This was one reason that he was frequently accused of being inept or incompetent. One of the biggest disasters that happened to the U.S. in the 20th Century was Carter losing the 1980 election, and the voters choosing the neocon, ride-em-cowboy Ronnie Raygun over Carter-the country has never been the same since.
I was not alive during his presidency but I know if there were more presidents like Jimmy Carter the world would be a better place. Also one of my favorite songs involves Jimmy Carter. Jimmy Carter Says yes I think it was in the movie GRASS https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnOQtUemjG8
Jimmy was a great president in my book to. I remember when he was in the white house. Too bad he lost. We then ended up with Nancy's puppet 'okay mommy' geez The leader of the free world calling the first lady mommy.
Honestly, not the best president, but probably the best man who held the presidency. He spoke at my school and it was a wonderful experience... much better than Dershy's rebuttle. My dream is to intern at the Carter Center the summer after next and maybe eventually work there as a career.
Jimmy Carter was the first elected U.S. President since President Roosevelt not to start a war or invade a country.It's the sad criterior by which Presidents are seen to be weak or strong.He also continued the abolition of the death sentence started by Nixon.The late 70s was a liberal time in America but so many people ridicule it,now.
It was during Mr. Carters presidency that The Soviet Union invaded Afganistan. Cuba sent an army to Angola and took over Grenada. Combined with the abovementioned Iranian hostage crisis they gave the impression of an irresolute presidency. We had just signed the Helsinki Accord with The Soviet Union, then they invade Afganistan? They took advantage of Carter and made him look bad
Hmmm, I think the invastion of Grenada took place in the 80s. 1983 if I remember right. Reagan was president. I distinctly remember Jimmy taking a very tough stance against the Soviets invading Afghanistan. The same day they invaded, there was a hijacked plane hostage situation (somewhere). It was also Christmas day, 1979. We, the U.S., was in the middle of the hostage situation in Iran which lasted 52 (if I remember right) days (beginning 11/4/79). Nice planning on the part of the Soviets.
I'll agree he's a great humanitarian but he made a shitty politician, too honest.Although if Reagan hadn't sabotaged the hostage negotiations Carter would have probably been re-elected .
Remembering when Sen Ted Kennedy challenged President Carter for the Democratic nomination 1980. So rare to see a sittting president challenged by his own party like that.
A slightly different take on Angola: http://www.strategypage.com/militaryforums/50-9.aspx History is a little more complicated than Kissingers statements at the time asserted.
some have suggested the whole thing at entebbe was a fraud http://news.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=855832007 though i do see jimmy carter as a brave person for what he has done to question the notion that israel is so sacred that they should never be questioned about their wrong doings or any of their actions.
I get the impression that, as President, he was to some extent a victim of bad timing. I got a kick out of a recent quote by him, forgive me if I get it wrong, I'm pulling it from memory, something along the lines of "I apologize for stating that Bush is the worst President ever, I meant he's worse than Nixon..."
The most memorable accomplishments of the Carter administration were interest rates approaching or exceeding 20%, more than 3 million pages of unlegislated regulation during the last 90 days of his presidency, one half-assed attempt to rescue the remaining 52 hostages (66 were originally taken) that were eventually held for 444 days by Iran, a negotiated end to our control and operation of the Panama Canal (now operated by China) which included paying billions to the government of Panama for the effect our leaving had on their economy (after they wanted us out), a negotiated "peace" in the middle east which included billions in aid to both Egypt and Israel which is on-going even today along with weapons sales and grants to both countries all as part of the "Camp David Accords". Since leaving office, when not publicly criticizing his successors, Mr. Carter has been instrumental in helping North Korea upgrade their nuclear reactors (during the Clinton administration), has met with leaders of known terrorist organizations and nations much less than friendly to the US, and was a close associate of a Pakistani banker who: made big donations to Carter's foundation, was indicted in several countries including the US, and fled to Pakistan (where extradition was refused). The US would be better off had Jimmy Carter remained in south Georgia raising peanuts and teaching Sunday school.
remember his brother '''''''''''' billy-beer-carter '''''''''''''''' the alleged kush with the brewery ? he was used as a secret liason to iran to make an arms deal the conservative republicans used this against him when it was public carter was ruined after reagan's inaugeration his first official act was to complete the secret deal carter made .... its [for me] one of many similar events which demonstrate that presidents have no real power unless they are members of a high level secret society CONS of PIRACY i would like to believe carter is a good guy i find no fault in him but i dont know him either
