U.S. presidential approval of Jimmy Carter 1977-1980
Democratic President Jimmy Carter enjoyed high approval ratings at the start of presidency, peaking at 75 percent approval in March, 1977. Carter left office with an approval rating of 34 percent, handing over the presidency to Ronald Regan in 1981.
Despite a Democratic majority in both the House and Senate, Congress opposed Carter's proposal for welfare reform, as well as an energy package that was one of the central focuses of his presidency. This ultimately led the American public to view him as an ineffective leader. His approval took an even greater hit after workers at the U.S. Embassy in Tehran were taken hostage by militarized Iranian college students in November 1979. In what became known as the Iran Hostage Crisis, Carter was unable to secure the release of the U.S. diplomats and citizens being held there. The state of emergency declared at the time remains in place, and is the longest state of emergency still in place today.
In 1982, he founded the Carter Center alongside his wife Rosalynn. The Center focuses on the advancement of human rights, and the alleviation of human suffering worldwide. In 2002, Carter received the Nobel Peace Prize for his work in finding peaceful solutions to international conflicts, advancing democracy and human rights, and promoting economic and social development. As of February 2023, Carter is the longest living president in U.S. history.
President Jimmy Carter
Carter rose to the presidency during a time in which the American people were disillusioned with government following the Watergate scandal under Richard Nixon. He styled himself as an outsider to Washington, and secured the Democratic nomination in 1976. He ran against Republican incumbent Gerald Ford who briefly took over as president role after Nixon resigned. Carter introduced a number of ambitious programs for social and economic reforms, and included a relatively large number of women in his cabinet compared with his predecessors.Despite a Democratic majority in both the House and Senate, Congress opposed Carter's proposal for welfare reform, as well as an energy package that was one of the central focuses of his presidency. This ultimately led the American public to view him as an ineffective leader. His approval took an even greater hit after workers at the U.S. Embassy in Tehran were taken hostage by militarized Iranian college students in November 1979. In what became known as the Iran Hostage Crisis, Carter was unable to secure the release of the U.S. diplomats and citizens being held there. The state of emergency declared at the time remains in place, and is the longest state of emergency still in place today.
Post-presidency life
After leaving the office of the president, Carter began a successful career in diplomacy. In 1994 he helped President Bill Clinton negotiate denuclearization with North Korea. He took on additional diplomatic roles in South Africa, working alongside Nelson Mandela, as well as in Darfur, Sudan, Zimbabwe and Syria.In 1982, he founded the Carter Center alongside his wife Rosalynn. The Center focuses on the advancement of human rights, and the alleviation of human suffering worldwide. In 2002, Carter received the Nobel Peace Prize for his work in finding peaceful solutions to international conflicts, advancing democracy and human rights, and promoting economic and social development. As of February 2023, Carter is the longest living president in U.S. history.
