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