Most Talked-About Controversies Linked to Jimmy Carter
Public opinion and media debates around Jimmy Carter—discover key moments of controversy.
Jimmy Carter, the 39th U.S. President (1977-1981), was a Democratic politician and humanitarian. Before his presidency, he served as the 76th Governor of Georgia (1971-1975) and in the Georgia State Senate (1963-1967). Notably, Carter was the longest-lived U.S. president, reaching the age of 100.
1964: Carter campaign uses similar rhetoric as Johnson's 1964 campaign
Carter's reelection campaign used similar rhetoric as Lyndon Johnson's 1964 presidential campaign, portraying Reagan as a warmonger who could not be trusted with the nuclear arsenal.
1970: Gubernatorial Election Campaign
In 1970, during the gubernatorial election, Carter's campaign leaned more conservative. He sought the black vote and the votes of those who had supported prominent Alabama segregationist George Wallace.
1971: Anti-Busing Resolution
In 1971, Jimmy Carter co-sponsored an anti-busing resolution with Wallace at the National Governors Conference.
1972: Revised Death Penalty Statute
In 1972, after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Georgia's death penalty statute in Furman v. Georgia, Jimmy Carter signed a revised statute that reintroduced the practice.
January 31, 1973: Joint Appearance on Busing
On January 31, 1973, Jimmy Carter made a televised joint appearance with Florida Governor Reubin Askew to advocate for a constitutional amendment banning busing to expedite school integration.
May 1973: Warned Against Politicizing Watergate
In May 1973, Jimmy Carter warned his party against politicizing the Watergate scandal, attributing it to president Richard Nixon's isolation and secretive decision-making.
April 1976: Remarks on Ethnic Purity
During an interview in April 1976, Jimmy Carter said, "I have nothing against a community that is... trying to maintain the ethnic purity of their neighborhoods," intending it as supportive of open housing laws, but specifying opposition to government efforts to "inject black families into a white neighborhood just to create some sort of integration".
November 1976: Playboy Interview
In the November 1976 issue of Playboy, Jimmy Carter discussed his religion's view of pride, saying, "I've looked on a lot of women with lust. I've committed adultery in my heart many times." This led to media controversy.
September 21, 1977: Bert Lance Resigns Amid Banking Allegations
On September 21, 1977, Bert Lance, the Carter administration's Office of Management and Budget director, resigned amid allegations of improper banking activities before his tenure.
January 1, 1978: Carter Visits Iran, Delivers "Island of Stability" Speech
From December 31, 1977, to January 1, 1978, Jimmy Carter visited Iran, where he gave his "Island of Stability" speech less than a year before the overthrow of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.
April 27, 1978: Communists Seize Power in Afghanistan
On April 27, 1978, Communists under Nur Muhammad Taraki seized power in Afghanistan.
1978: Military aid to Indonesia peaks
In 1978, during Carter's administration, military assistance to Indonesia peaked. This was inconsistent with Carter's stated policy regarding arms sales in conflict regions.
January 1979: Shah Leaves Iran
In January 1979, the Shah, who was dying of cancer, left Iran for the last time, an event that intensified anti-American sentiment in Iran.
October 22, 1979: Shah admitted to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
On October 22, 1979, Carter allowed the Shah, who was dying of cancer, to be admitted to the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York.
November 4, 1979: U.S. Embassy in Tehran Taken Over
On November 4, 1979, Iranian students took over the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, leading to the hostage crisis.
December 24, 1979: Soviet Union Invades Afghanistan
On December 24, 1979, the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan, executed Hafizullah Amin, and installed Babrak Karmal as president.
December 28, 1979: Carter Approves Lethal Aid to Afghan Opposition
On December 28, 1979, Jimmy Carter signed a presidential finding allowing the CIA to transfer lethal military equipment to the Afghan opponents of the Soviet intervention.
1979: Soviets Intervene in Second Yemenite War
In 1979, the Soviets intervened in the Second Yemenite War. This, along with tensions from the Iranian Revolution, contributed to a more assertive stance by Jimmy Carter towards the Soviet Union.
1979: Iran Hostage Crisis and Oil Crisis
In 1979, the later years of Jimmy Carter's presidency were marked by several foreign policy crises, including the fallout of the Iranian revolution including the Iran hostage crisis and 1979 oil crisis.
January 1980: Carter Revokes Sino-American Mutual Defense Treaty
In January 1980, Jimmy Carter unilaterally revoked the Sino-American Mutual Defense Treaty with the Republic of China. This action led to legal challenges, but the Supreme Court upheld Carter's decision.
January 23, 1980: Carter Announces Sanctions on Soviet Union
On January 23, 1980, Jimmy Carter announced sanctions on the Soviet Union, promised renewed aid to Pakistan, and committed the U.S. to the Persian Gulf's defense in a televised speech.
April 7, 1980: Carter Imposes Economic Sanctions Against Iran
On April 7, 1980, Jimmy Carter issued Executive Order 12205, imposing economic sanctions against Iran and announcing further measures to secure the safe release of the American hostages.
April 24, 1980: Carter Orders Operation Eagle Claw
On April 24, 1980, Jimmy Carter ordered Operation Eagle Claw to attempt to free the American hostages in Iran. The mission failed, resulting in casualties and the resignation of Secretary of State Cyrus Vance.
May 1980: Carter Supports South Korean President Chun Doo-hwan
In May 1980, Jimmy Carter supported South Korean President Chun Doo-hwan during the suppression of the Gwangju Uprising.
June 1980: Approval rating slumps amid Iran hostage crisis
Amid criticism for his handling of the Iran hostage crisis, Jimmy Carter's approval rating slumped to 33% in June 1980, coinciding with Reagan surpassing Carter in pre-election polling.
July 2, 1980: Reactivation of the Selective Service System
On July 2, 1980, Jimmy Carter alienated many liberal college students by reactivating the Selective Service System, reinstating registration for the military draft.
1980: CIA memo concludes Iranian hardliners sought to exploit hostage crisis
In 1980, a declassified CIA memo concluded that Iranian hardliners, especially Ayatollah Khomeini, were determined to exploit the hostage issue to cause President Carter's defeat in the November elections.
1980: Carter Administration and Samuel Doe
In 1980, the Carter Administration pursued an alliance with Liberia's Samuel Doe, who had come to power in a coup.
1980: Carter initiates program to arm the mujahideen
In early 1980, Carter initiated a program to arm the mujahideen through Pakistan's ISI and secured a pledge from Saudi Arabia to match U.S. funding for this purpose.
1984: Criticism of Reagan Administration: Sabra and Shatila Massacre & Businessmen Rescue
In 1984, Jimmy Carter condemned the Reagan administration's handling of the Sabra and Shatila massacre and the lack of efforts to rescue and retrieve four American businessmen from West Beirut.
1985: Criticism of Reagan's Strategic Defense Initiative
In 1985, Jimmy Carter spoke out against the Reagan administration and criticized Reagan's support of the Strategic Defense Initiative.
1987: Criticism of Reagan on Terrorist Demands and Supreme Court Nomination
In 1987, Jimmy Carter criticized Reagan for conceding to terrorist demands, nominating Robert Bork for the Supreme Court, and his handling of the Persian Gulf crisis.
2000: Endorsement of Al Gore and Opinion on Election Outcome
In 2000, Jimmy Carter endorsed Al Gore and later voiced his opinion that Gore won the election, despite George W. Bush being certified the victor.
2000: Renouncing Southern Baptist Membership
In 2000, Jimmy Carter renounced his membership in the Southern Baptist Convention after it announced it would no longer permit women to become pastors, citing his belief in equal roles for women in church service.
2004: Belief That Bush Exploited 9/11 Attacks
In 2004, Jimmy Carter said he believed George W. Bush had exploited the September 11 attacks.
2006: Publication of "Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid"
In 2006, Jimmy Carter's book "Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid" was published, generating controversy for characterizing Israel's policies in the occupied territories as apartheid.
2007: Comments on Bush Administration's Foreign Affairs Record
In 2007, Jimmy Carter said the Bush administration "has been the worst in history" on foreign affairs, later clarifying he was comparing Bush's tenure to Nixon's.
2007: Apology for Book Wording
In 2007, during a speech at Brandeis University, Jimmy Carter apologized for wording in his book that suggested Palestinian suicide attacks were justified, calling it "improper and stupid."
2019: Comments on Russian Interference and Trump's Legitimacy
In 2019, Jimmy Carter said that Donald Trump would not have been elected without Russia's interference in the 2016 election and agreed that Trump is an "illegitimate president".
2023: Reagan Campaign Allegations
In 2023, allegations surfaced claiming that people working on the Reagan campaign convinced Iran to prolong the Iran hostage crisis to reduce Jimmy Carter's chance of reelection.
