Jimmy Carter's achievements have too readily been overlooked by historians. Journalist Robert Alter's magisterial biography provides the needed corrective.
Thanks for your thorough review of this Jimmy Carter reassessment biography.
One lasting image from the Carter years was his hyperventilating into the arms of Secret Service guardians on a 10K fun/run. His PR people noted that he returned to greet successful runners – demonstrating to me the guy’s decency despite disappointment. It seemed that he and his Georgia crowd thought they knew better - a kind of moral superiority (religious?). So, I look forward to reading the book because for years I was left with the impression that he was a terrific former president but a micro-managing failure as he leader of the free world. For example, I wondered why he did not take decisive action when Iranian revolutionaries held captive American diplomats. I believe this led to the election of Ronald Reagan. By the end of the Carter terms, the nation was despondent ready for a change.
As an aside, I was also put off by his seeming religiously based moral rectitude. I always wondered if this prevented him from wheeling and dealing with Congress.
And thanks for your interest, Marvin. Alter does cite the 10K run incident and Carter's response afterward. That Carter was a micro-manger is a theme that is strewn throughout the biography. Alter's book does describe in detail the agony of the hostage crisis and even efforts to negotiate a resolution with the Iranians behind the scenes. Alter documents indecisiveness within the administration, including deliberation on the merits of military intervention. That the hostage crisis led to Carter's defeat in the election is beyond doubt. I am not sure I agree about the relation between Carter's rectitude and his religious devotion. Alter doesn't draw this connection, and confirms that Carter's distance from Congress had other causes that were grounded in his character. This seems right to me.
The book is a comprehensive and valuable read. Thanks, again, for your interest.
Thanks, Joe. I believe as you and Alter apparently do that Carter doesn’t get nearly the credit he deserves. By the way, the show you referred to was called America Held Hostage, which is why I blame Roone Arledge for helping to elect Reagan. It evolved into Nightline after the hostages were freed.
Once again your memory for TV shows of yesteryear is right on target. I went back to the book, and here is what Alter wrote:
"In 1979 Roone Arledge, the legendary producer brought in from ABC Sports to jazz up a lackluster ABC News, was eager to expand his empire. He wanted to grab the eleven-thirty-to-midnight hour way from affiliates, which were saving money by re-airing old episodes of The Love Boat, Baretta and Police Women instead of competing directly with Johnny Carson.
Arledge got lucky with the timing of the takeover.... At first, the news from Iran wasn't huge. The night the story broke, Ted Koppel, the ABC News diplomat correspondent but out of favor with Arledge didn't want to come into the Washington studio. Like the White House, he recalled the short-lived February takeover and figured the whole thing would be finished in a few hours or days. But Arledge noticed that cab drivers, doormen, and others he met in New York were entranced by the story.
Starting eleven days after the takeover, Arledge grabbed the time slot every night for a special he called 'The Iran Crisis: America Held Hostage,' which was soon anchored by Koppel....
In the pre-cable era, where the only network interview shows were on Sunday morning, America Held Hostage (renamed Nightline the following March and made permanent) changed the way Americans absorbed news."
Get this:
"When Koppel ran into Carter years later, the former president told him,'You know there were only two people who really benefited from all of that: you and the Ayatollah Khoumeini.'"
I conclude the effect of Nightline in ending his career wasn't lost on Carter.
It’s actually even worse. They introduced the show every night with the number of days since the hostages were taken. So it was, for example: America Held Hostage Day 133
Thanks for your thorough review of this Jimmy Carter reassessment biography.
One lasting image from the Carter years was his hyperventilating into the arms of Secret Service guardians on a 10K fun/run. His PR people noted that he returned to greet successful runners – demonstrating to me the guy’s decency despite disappointment. It seemed that he and his Georgia crowd thought they knew better - a kind of moral superiority (religious?). So, I look forward to reading the book because for years I was left with the impression that he was a terrific former president but a micro-managing failure as he leader of the free world. For example, I wondered why he did not take decisive action when Iranian revolutionaries held captive American diplomats. I believe this led to the election of Ronald Reagan. By the end of the Carter terms, the nation was despondent ready for a change.
As an aside, I was also put off by his seeming religiously based moral rectitude. I always wondered if this prevented him from wheeling and dealing with Congress.
And thanks for your interest, Marvin. Alter does cite the 10K run incident and Carter's response afterward. That Carter was a micro-manger is a theme that is strewn throughout the biography. Alter's book does describe in detail the agony of the hostage crisis and even efforts to negotiate a resolution with the Iranians behind the scenes. Alter documents indecisiveness within the administration, including deliberation on the merits of military intervention. That the hostage crisis led to Carter's defeat in the election is beyond doubt. I am not sure I agree about the relation between Carter's rectitude and his religious devotion. Alter doesn't draw this connection, and confirms that Carter's distance from Congress had other causes that were grounded in his character. This seems right to me.
The book is a comprehensive and valuable read. Thanks, again, for your interest.
Thanks for your thoughtful and detailed article on CArfter-a great man!
Many thanks, Jean. This was a long read, and I am glad you stuck with it!
Thanks, Joe. I believe as you and Alter apparently do that Carter doesn’t get nearly the credit he deserves. By the way, the show you referred to was called America Held Hostage, which is why I blame Roone Arledge for helping to elect Reagan. It evolved into Nightline after the hostages were freed.
Once again your memory for TV shows of yesteryear is right on target. I went back to the book, and here is what Alter wrote:
"In 1979 Roone Arledge, the legendary producer brought in from ABC Sports to jazz up a lackluster ABC News, was eager to expand his empire. He wanted to grab the eleven-thirty-to-midnight hour way from affiliates, which were saving money by re-airing old episodes of The Love Boat, Baretta and Police Women instead of competing directly with Johnny Carson.
Arledge got lucky with the timing of the takeover.... At first, the news from Iran wasn't huge. The night the story broke, Ted Koppel, the ABC News diplomat correspondent but out of favor with Arledge didn't want to come into the Washington studio. Like the White House, he recalled the short-lived February takeover and figured the whole thing would be finished in a few hours or days. But Arledge noticed that cab drivers, doormen, and others he met in New York were entranced by the story.
Starting eleven days after the takeover, Arledge grabbed the time slot every night for a special he called 'The Iran Crisis: America Held Hostage,' which was soon anchored by Koppel....
In the pre-cable era, where the only network interview shows were on Sunday morning, America Held Hostage (renamed Nightline the following March and made permanent) changed the way Americans absorbed news."
Get this:
"When Koppel ran into Carter years later, the former president told him,'You know there were only two people who really benefited from all of that: you and the Ayatollah Khoumeini.'"
I conclude the effect of Nightline in ending his career wasn't lost on Carter.
It’s actually even worse. They introduced the show every night with the number of days since the hostages were taken. So it was, for example: America Held Hostage Day 133
Yes. I well recall.
I thought the article was great
I greatly admired Jimmy Carter
He was indeed a great humanitarian
His example has inspired many people
Thank you for this overview
Many thanks, Ken, for your continuing interest.