Jimmy Carter, not considered successful as President, was actually one of the best. [View all]

[lees1975]

https://signalpress.blogspot.com/2025/01/carters-presidency-wasnt-considered.html

In terms of the Presidency itself, I would say that his biggest achievement was shifting the White House and Washington culture away from the "Imperial Presidency" established by Nixon, who attempted to overstep the boundaries of Presidential power. By contrast, Carter was most definitely a man of the people, and he restored integrity to the Presidency. That was something Ford had not been able to do, and is a mark of Carter's success. Arthur Schlesinger wrote a book, The Imperial Presidency, toward the end of the Nixon presidency, describing what Nixon had done. Carter, determined to undo it, didn't even want "Hail to the Chief" played when he entered a room.

His signature achievement was negotiating the Camp David Accords, bringing Egypt and Israel to the negotiating table, and winning the peace, something that still stands, and can be considered the greatest step toward peace in the Middle East since 1917. I wonder how much more this man would have achieved, given his approach, toward resolving problems between Israel and its other neighbors, had he been given the chance. His conduct, demeanor and his knowledge of the facts in the situation earned the respect of the Israelis and the Egyptians, ending three decades of almost constant warfare.

Even though the impression left as a result of circumstances that caused the end of his Presidency after only one term in office, he was successful in getting a lot of legislation through Congress, as much in one term as his Democratic successors Clinton and Obama achieved in two. Noting that Carter served prior to the time when partisan loyalty has super-ceded patriotism in American politics, he managed to get most of what he set out to do as President done, and most of it was legislation providing for the benefit of the American people.

And while he very openly practiced his faith in the White House, he never crossed the boundary of imposing what he believed upon others by using the power of his office. He respected, understood and believed in the constitution's guarantee of religious freedom to all Americans, found in the first amendment, along with separation of church and state. He respected the rights of others to practice their faith in the same attitude and atmosphere of religious freedom, without compromising his own convictions and beliefs.

His strongly held Christian convictions, which included his desire to demonstrate his love for his neighbor, by serving the American people, were evident. The manner in which he expressed his faith while serving as President earned the respect of most people, not their ridicule or derision. He knew where to draw the line between depending on his faith, and praying for the wisdom and guidance he needed to lead the country, and wearing it on his sleeve, demanding that everyone should have the same faith.