24.3 FORD, CARTER
“A FORD, NOT A LINCOLN…”
• Gerald Ford became Pres. when Nixon resigned.
• Not an exciting guy…• His economic strategy, “WIN”: Whip Inflation Now.
• He hoped Americans would stop over-using gas• He also cut back money supply/inflation
• Led to worst economy since the Great Depression
“A FORD, NOT A LINCOLN…”• Ford continued to negotiate with Commies
• Even got the Soviets to sign the “Helsinki Accords”• Doc. that pledge all countries will improve human
rights in their own countries
PEANUT FARMER PRESIDENT• Jimmy Carter was a quiet,
humble, trustworthy former-governor of Georgia
• Everything Nixon wasn’t…• He tended to stay isolated
in Washington, didn’t reach out even to other Democrats
PEANUT FARMER PRESIDENT• Carter made energy and the environment a big
deal for his administration
• The National Energy Act tried to ease our gas-guzzling ways and promote “green energy”
• When OPEC raised oil prices again in 1979, Carter appeared to just give up
PEANUT FARMER PRESIDENT• Our economy shifting towards services
instead of manufacturing required a higher-trained work force
• We “outsourced” manufacturing jobs to competitors like Japan and South Korea
• Carter did hire many minorities into high govt. positions…
• But he did not pass much Civil Rights laws
PEANUT FARMER PRESIDENT• Carter emphasized human rights in foreign policy
• And would negotiate with leaders who treated their people poorly
• He increased tensions with the Soviets
• And didn’t end up supporting SALT II on missile launchers signed
CARTER IN THE MIDDLE EAST• Carter jumped in and saved peace talks
between Egypt and Israel in 1977
• They met with him in at Camp David and signed the Camp David Accords
• Israel has still had problems with its other Arab neighbors…
CARTER IN THE MIDDLE EAST• 1979 Iranian Revolution: hard-core Islamists
overthrow the U.S.-backed “shah” (king)
• They also take over the U.S. Embassy in Tehran (the capital) and hold 52 American hostages
• Negotiations w/ Carter failed, they were released hours after Reagan took office
CARTER SINCE HIS PRESIDENCY• Founded the “Carter Center” that promotes
democratic elections, peace, and helping poor countries
• This group won the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize