Jimmy Carter

Jimmy Carter’s Historic Foreign Policy Accomplishments!

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Now that Jimmy Carter has passed away, the true analysis of his Presidency can begin, in a way it could not do, while he was still alive.

Just as Harry Truman’s death led to “Truman Mania” over the next five to ten years, the same will happen in the next decade for Carter, and his historical ranking will rise from the mid 20s to the top 20, possibly as high as number 15, the top one third.

Carter’s foreign policy accomplishments are massive, most the case with the Camp David Accords between Egypt and Israel, accomplished only after 13 tortorous days, between Menachem Begin of Israel, and Anwar Sadat of Egypt, with Carter’s prodding.

But also, there are other major foreign policy accomplishments, including the Panama Canal Treaties, recognition of the Chinese government after 30 years of refusing to do so, and promotion of human rights as a factor in foreign policy.

Carter will look as a giant in retrospect, despite the Iran Hostage problem, which although disturbing, led to the ultimate freedom of American hostages, rather than their deaths. And the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, while seen as a negative for Carter, actually, in the long run led to the downfall of the Soviet Union in 1991.

Carter will shine in the future as compared to the many foreign policy disasters of Republicans Ronald Reagan, George W. Bush, and Donald Trump!

Death Of Jimmy Carter A Tragic Moment In US HIstory

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The news of the passing of Jimmy Carter at age 100 is a shock, even though it was clearly expected.

It brings this blogger and author to tears, which he has rarely had about public figures, with the exception of Hubert Humphrey in 1978 being an exception.

This was a most decent, compassionate, genuine man, who was never appreciated in his time in office, due to the difficult circumstances that would have plagued Gerald Ford, had he remained in office.

Carter was a victim of events that no one could have predicted or reacted to in a different way, despite what the critics say.

Due to the emotional state the author is in right now, I will write more about this tragic event in future days.

I will just say that it is fortunate that Joe Biden, a decent man like Carter, will be in charge of eulogies at his funeral, as Donald Trump, likely, would not even show up, or have anything decent to say about the contributions of the 39th President.

Carter, despite his shortcomings in office, is rated in the mid 20s among Presidents, while Donald Trump is rated in the bottom few, and often as the worst President in American history.

And despite coming back to power, Donald Trump is likely to add to his evil stature historically, and do great harm to American domestic and foreign policy in the next four years, putting America into a weakened position.

The tragedy of Carter’s death and Trump’s election will be seen as one of the greatest tragedies of American history in the long run.

Back From Rome, Italy Vacation To True Madness!

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This author and blogger has been away on vacation for two weeks, taking a well deserved break and hitting the mark of being 80 years old.

Part of that vacation was traveling to Rome, Italy with my older son to experience the heritage of the Roman Empire, and it was very enlightening, and revealing, how what happened to Rome in ancient times seems to be happening in America in the 21st century, a sense of true madness!

The fact that we are seeing the conflict between MAGA Republicans and technocrats, including Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, makes clear that we are headed toward total chaos and anarchy.

The two factions, one very racist, misogynist, and nativist, clashes with the billionaires which include people of color and foreign birth in the battle for control of future policy.

The idea that Donald Trump is threatening to take control of the Panama Canal, given back by treaty under Jimmy Carter, and taking place in 2000, is astounding.

The repeated desire of Trump to take over Greenland from Denmark, and to suggest all of Canada as the 51st state is mind boggling.

The growing threat to journalism and freedom of the press of all kinds, including comedy, and also commentary, even by bloggers like this author, is stunning.

With only 23 days until Joe Biden leaves office, and Donald Trump returns to the Oval Office, there is a sense of foreboding that one wonders about the upcoming 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence only 18 months away!

Democrats Have Cleaned Up Republican Economic Messes Since 1953!

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It is amazing how Republicans have lied incessantly for the past 70 years about the economy under Democratic Presidents, when it is such Democratic Presidents who have revived the economy after Republican Presidents managed to preside over economic recessions.

John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson presided over economic prosperity in the 1960s, after three recessions under Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Jimmy Carter presided over an economic recovery from the Recession of 1974-1975 under Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford, but sadly had to deal with another short lived, six months, recession in 1980, which was one of the factors, but not the most important, in his defeat, as the only Democratic President who had an economic decline since 1953.

Bill Clinton presided over an economic recovery from the recession under George H. W. Bush in the early 1990s, having a long period of economic prosperity.

Barack Obama presided over a long economic recovery from the Great Recession of 2008-2009 under George W. Bush, over 75 months from 2010-2017.

Joe Biden presided over revival of the American economy, from a great economic recession in office in 2020 under Donald Trump, a time of dramatic economic loss due to the Covid 19 Pandemic.

While there were moments of high inflation under Joe Biden due to the aftermath of the Pandemic, as with all Democratic Presidents, there was job growth, with most jobs created under them, and the percentage under Republican Presidents being very few under Presidents Eisenhower, Nixon, Ford, Reagan, and the Bushes, and a massive job loss under Donald Trump.

These are economic facts, no matter what Donald Trump and Republicans claim to be the truth!

Having Opposition Party In A President’s Administration A Tradition!

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It is quite common for a President of one party to select a leading figure of the other party to be part of his Administration.

The number of examples abound, as follows:

John F. Kennedy appointed Republicans including:

Robert McNamara as Secretary of Defense
C. Douglas Dillon as Secretary of the Treasury
Henry Cabot Lodge Jr as Ambassador to South Vietnam

Lyndon B. Johnson appointed Republicans including:

John W. Gardner as Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare
Henry Cabot Lodge Jr as Ambassador to West Germany

Richard Nixon appointed Democrats including:

Sargent Shriver as Ambassador to France
John Connally as Secretary of the Treasury

Gerald Ford appointed Democrats including:

Daniel Patrick Moynihan as Ambassador to the United Nations

Jimmy Carter appointed Republicans including:

James Schlesinger as Secretary of Energy
William H. Webster as Director of the FBI

Ronald Reagan appointed Democrats including:

Mike Mansfield as Ambassador to Japan
Jeane Kirkpatrick as Ambassador to the United Nations
William Bennett as Secretary of Education

George H W Bush appointed Democrats including:

Robert Strauss as Ambassador to the Soviet Union/Russia

Bill Clinton appointed Republicans including:

William Cohen as Secretary of Defense

George W. Bush appointed Democrats including:

Norman Mineta as Secretary of Transportation

Barack Obama appointed Republicans including:

Robert Gates as Secretary of Defense
Jon Huntsman Jr. as Ambassador to China
Robert Mueller as Director of the FBI
Ray Lahood as Secretary of Transportation
Chuck Hagel as Secretary of Defense

Donald Trump appointed Democrats including:

Gary Cohn as Director of the National Economic Council

Joe Biden appointed Republicans, including:

Christopher Wray as Director of the FBI
Jerome Powell as Chairman of the Federal Reserve
Jeff Flake as Ambassador to Turkey
Meg Whitman as Ambassador to Kenya

The Obamas Stir And Motivate Democrats For The Upcoming Presidential Campaign!

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On the second night of the Democratic National Convention, Barack and Michelle Obama gave rousing speeches, stirring and motivating Democrats for the upcoming 11 week battle until Election Day 2024.

The Obamas are, without doubt, the most popular and stirring Presidential couple in modern times, and they speak with authenticity and passion of the reality of the threat of Donald Trump and his minions on the future of the nation, if he is returned to the Presidency.

Both made a strong case for Kamala Harria and Tim Walz.

Additionally, Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, who may end up as First Gentleman, gave a heart warming personal speech about his wife.

And Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders also gave his typical rousing speech, amazing when one considers that he is about to turn 83 next month.

Additionally, Jason Carter, the grandson of former President Jimmy Carter, who will turn 100 years of age on October 1, spoke about his grandfather’s excitement to vote for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz.

Also, Jack Schlossberg, the only grandson of President John F. Kennedy, gave a speech in support, at the same time that his uncle, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is undermining the Democrats, by his consorting with Donald Trump, including the possibility of supporting him, due to his own flailing third party campaign

There is an electricity in the convention, a sense that the Democrats are, hopefully, on the way to victory in November, but much work is ahead, as it is likely that the election will be very close in the “swing states”, as they were in 2016 and 2020!

50th Anniversary Of Gerald Ford Becoming President

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In the midst of commemorations of the 50th Anniversary of the Richard Nixon resignation from the Presidency, not as much attention is devoted to the accession of Gerald Ford to the Presidency for the next two years, five months and 11 days, as the only President NOT elected President or Vice President.

Ford was approved to be Vice President under the recently enacted 25th Amendment to the Constitution, upon the resignation of Vice President Spiro Agnew, arguably the most corrupt, scandalous, and obnoxious Vice President in the history of that office.

Agnew’s involvement in scandals, corruption, and in attacks on the news media and common decency, was horrifying, and it was a great sense of relief that he was forced out in October 1973.

The selection by the compromised President, Richard Nixon, at a time when the Watergate Scandal was metastasizing, was a relief as Ford, the House Minority Leader, was well respected and admired by members of the House of Representatives and the Senate in both political parties.

Ford conducted himself honorably as Vice President for about eight months from early December 1973 until his elevation to the Presidency on August 9, 1974.

And while Ford would lose election for a full term to Jimmy Carter in 1976, looking back on Ford, it seems clear that he has been underestimated in history, and deserves a better shake from the American people and Presidential scholars.

His wife, Betty Ford, was a major contributor to the history of First Ladies, often considered the “best” Republican First Lady of modern times.

While many would not agree with all of Gerald Ford’s views and stands on issues and policies, he comes across as the most decent Republican President in the past six decades!

More Corruption Scandals Under Donald Trump Than Any Other President!

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It is, sadly, now clear, that when the entire history of the Donald Trump Presidency is written, that his administration will be seen as the most corrupt in American history.

Just the fact that Trump has been twice impeached, four times indicted, and so far, one time convicted of crimes, puts Trump in a special category.

But earlier Presidents also have had a tawdry reputation to different degrees, including:

Ulysses S. Grant 1869-1877
Warren G. Harding 1921-1923
Richard Nixon 1969-1974
Ronald Reagan 1981-1989
George W. Bush 2001-2009

All of the above, along with Donald Trump, have been Republican Presidents!

But only Nixon comes across as personally involved in so many corrupt actions of this group, so was considered the “worst” President on corruption until Donald Trump came along.

Democratic Presidents, by comparison, have had minor, insigificant scandals, with the most prominent being the Monica Lewinsky scandal under Bill Clinton, but which was easily matched by Donald Trump with the Stormy Daniels and other scandals involving women.

And Jimmy Carter and Barack Obama had NO serious violations of the law in any way considered significant.

235 Years Since The Inauguration Of George Washington!

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On this day in 1789, George Washington was inaugurated, 57 days late, as the first President of the United States, in the downtown Wall Street area of New York City.

Washington was the right person to start the Presidency of a new Republic, and he knew that it was essential that he give up power, in order to insure the survival and stability of the nation in the long term future.

We cannot thank Washington enough, or all of the later Presidents who knew when to leave!

And we can also be thankful that even in hotly contested elections in the future, Presidents who lost reelection—John Adams, John Quincy Adams, Martin Van Buren, Grover Cleveland, Benjamin Harrison, William Howard Taft, Herbert Hoover, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, and George H. W. Bush–followed the tradition Washington had set by leaving office.

Also, we have to be thankful that in close elections, such candidates as Samuel Tilden in 1876, Al Gore in 2000, and Hillary Clinton in 2016 were gracious in defeat, and that Vice Presidents who lost the succession to their President—Richard Nixon in 1960, Hubert Humphrey in 1968—also were gracious in defeat, as was Gore in 2000.

Sadly, the crisis today is due to the reality that Donald Trump would not accept defeat graciously, and provoked a violent mob on January 6, 2021, for which he must be held accountable!

APSA Presidential Greatness Poll 2024: Most Under-Rated And Over-Rated Presidents

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The American Political Science Association Presidential Greatness Poll 2024 also ranks “Under-Rated” and “Over-Rated” Presidents.

The most Under-Rated Presidents in the poll are judged to be Jimmy Carter, Ulysses S. Grant, George H. W. Bush, Dwight D. Eisenhower, and Lyndon B. Johnson.

The most Over-Rated Presidents in the poll are judged to be John F. Kennedy, Ronald Reagan, Andrew Jackson, Woodrow Wilson, and Thomas Jefferson.