what did jimmy carter do as president

what did jimmy carter do as president

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Jimmy Carter, as the 39th President of the United States (1977–1981), undertook significant actions in both domestic and foreign policy: Domestic Achievements:

  • Pardoned all Vietnam War draft evaders as one of his first acts in office.
  • Addressed the energy crisis by establishing a national energy policy, creating the Department of Energy, and deregulating domestic petroleum prices to stimulate production.
  • Created the Department of Education to centralize and improve education policy.
  • Promoted government efficiency through civil service reform and deregulation of trucking and airline industries.
  • Expanded the national park system significantly, including protection of over 100 million acres of Alaskan lands through the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act.
  • Increased social services, bolstered Social Security, and appointed record numbers of women, African Americans, and Hispanics to federal positions.
  • Delivered the notable "malaise speech" addressing the nation's energy crisis and a "crisis of confidence" among Americans.
  • Faced economic challenges including inflation, recession, and high interest rates, with mixed results on economic recovery

Foreign Policy Achievements:

  • Brokered the Camp David Accords in 1978, a historic peace agreement between Egypt and Israel, which is considered one of the most significant diplomatic achievements of the 20th century.
  • Negotiated the Panama Canal Treaties, returning control of the canal to Panama, improving relations with Latin America.
  • Signed the SALT II nuclear arms limitation treaty with the Soviet Union, though it was never ratified by the U.S. Senate.
  • Established full diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China.
  • Championed human rights as a central focus of U.S. foreign policy, emphasizing civil and political rights globally.
  • Managed the Iran Hostage Crisis, which lasted 444 days and heavily impacted his presidency.
  • Recognized early the problem of global warming and issued reports on climate change dangers.
  • Supported dissidents in the Soviet Union and advocated for human rights worldwide

In summary, Carter's presidency was marked by earnest efforts to tackle energy shortages, promote peace in the Middle East, advance human rights, and reform domestic policies, although his term was challenged by economic difficulties and the Iran hostage crisis, which contributed to his 1980 election defeat. His diplomatic persistence, particularly in the Camp David Accords and Panama Canal treaties, left a lasting legacy.

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