Former President Jimmy Carter passed away on Sunday at his home in Plains, Georgia, at the age of 100. Carter, who served as the 39th president of the United States from 1977 to 1981, holds the record for the longest-lived president in American history.
President-elect Donald Trump called him a good person but a “terrible president,” and we probably have a good idea why. Will Trump’s second-chance administration outpace who many call the most “humble and devoted” commander-in-chief in US history?
Probably yes, maybe not.
A presidency that battled stagflation with a humanitarian vision
Jimmy Carter assumed office at a time when the US economy grappled with “stagflation,” a term coined to describe the unusual combination of high inflation and stagnant economic growth. For average Americans, this economic malaise meant skyrocketing prices for essential goods like groceries and gas while wages failed to keep pace.
Families struggled to make ends meet, and the purchasing power of their income eroded, creating widespread frustration and uncertainty about the future. The economic malaise was exacerbated by President Richard Nixon’s 1973 decision to abandon the gold standard, which devalued the dollar and triggered a rise in import prices.
Inflation soared, and unemployment followed suit. By the time Carter left office in 1981, the joblessness rate had climbed to 7.4%, up from the mid-5% range during the early years of his presidency.
To tackle the developing issue, Carter appointed Paul Volcker as chairman of the Federal Reserve in 1979. Volcker adopted an aggressive policy of raising interest rates, a move that eventually curbed inflation but came at the cost of a deep recession.
Carter’s speeches during this period often reflected his pragmatic approach. “We will not solve inflation by increasing unemployment,” he told the American Society of Newspaper Editors in 1978. “It is a myth that the government itself can stop inflation.”
His administration prioritized policies aimed at reducing inequality and supporting vulnerable populations. Carter’s most notable efforts included investments in energy conservation programs to mitigate the energy crisis and a focus on education through the creation of the Department of Education, which sought to provide equal access to quality schooling.
However, his tenure was overshadowed by the immediate economic struggles faced by everyday Americans, including soaring food and housing costs, issues that remain strikingly familiar today.
Jimmy Carter and US-China relations: A gamble Trump does not care for
Jimmy Carter’s most consequential foreign policy achievement was his diplomatic relations with China. In December 1978, he announced the severance of ties with the Republic of China in Taiwan and the recognition of the People’s Republic of China, effective January 1, 1979. This bold move aimed to promote peace and strategic alignment during the Cold War.
“The normalization of US-China relations has no other purpose than to promote peace,” Carter declared at the time. While the decision was controversial, it laid the groundwork for decades of Sino-American cooperation and competition.
“China expresses deep condolences on the passing of former US President Jimmy Carter. Former President Carter was a key promoter and decision-maker in the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the United States. Over the years, he made significant contributions to the development of China-US relations and the friendship between the two countries, which we highly commend,” Chinese spokesperson Mao Ning said.
Donald Trump will be less likely to follow the former President’s footsteps. The former bashed China severally during and after his first term, even going as far as to say he’d seen evidence of COVID-19 originating from a Chinese lab.
To add salt to injury, China is a member of the BRICS bloc, which doesn’t sit well with the incoming US President.
His campaign issued proposals of new tariffs ranging from 10% to 20% on most foreign goods, with Chinese imports shouldering the greatest burden, targeted at a staggering 60%. Not so friendly now, is it?
It’s pretty clear how Trump is excited to “get one over” China with his plans to adopt crypto, a technology Mainland China is at loggerheads with. “We’re gonna do something great with crypto. We don’t want China, or anybody else – others are embracing it, and we want to be the head,” Trump remarked when he rang the opening trade bell in the NYSE on December 12.
Trump’s criticism and contrasting vision for the economy
President-elect Donald Trump, who has frequently criticized past US presidents, offered an unusually respectful tribute to Jimmy Carter following his death.
On Truth Social, Trump praised Carter’s efforts to improve the lives of Americans, writing, “The challenges Jimmy faced as President came at a pivotal time for our country, and he did everything in his power to improve the lives of all Americans. For that, we all owe him a debt of gratitude.”
Donald Trump’s condolence message to Jimmy Carter’s family. Source: Truth Social
However, Trump’s post-humous admiration for Carter contrasts sharply with his broader critique of Carter’s presidency. Trump has often pointed to Carter’s handling of stagflation as an example of economic mismanagement, even as he fashions his own plans to combat inflation and reduce costs for American families.
Among Trump’s campaign promises is a pledge to “end inflation and make America affordable again,” a slogan that might ring familiar to those who lived through Carter’s era.
Trump’s proposed solutions, however, diverge significantly from Carter’s measured approach. Trump has pledged to expand domestic energy production, including controversial plans to open the Arctic wilderness to oil drilling.
He argues that this would lower energy costs, though economists remain skeptical about the long-term impact on inflation. Additionally, Trump has proposed reducing housing costs by restricting undocumented immigrants’ access to mortgages and launching a federal housing initiative.
Jimmy Carter and Trump’s contrasting upbringings are on full display in their vastly different approaches to governance. Carter, born on a farm in rural Georgia, grew up without electricity or running water. He attended the US Naval Academy and later returned to his hometown to run his family’s peanut business before entering politics.
Trump’s childhood was very different; he was raised in the affluent neighborhood of Jamaica Estates in Queens, New York, and inherited a real estate empire that shaped his business-centric worldview.
Their presidencies further highlight their opposing philosophies. Carter’s installation of solar water-heating panels on the White House roof symbolized his commitment to renewable energy and environmental stewardship.
Trump’s dismissal of climate change as a “hoax” invented by China shows he doesn’t want to employ Carter’s ethos. He’d rather do things “his way.”
Jimmy Carter’s legacy of service and reflection
Carter and Trump’s careers share one common thread: a profound impact on American society. Carter’s post-presidency was marked by humanitarian work through the Carter Center, earning him a Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. His efforts to eradicate diseases, promote human rights, and build affordable housing have left an indelible mark on the world stage.
Trump’s legacy, meanwhile, remains a work in progress. As he prepares to assume office again, his vision for America’s economy and how it will compare to the policies of past presidents like Carter is a magnet for scrutiny.
Jimmy Carter’s biographer, Jonathan Alter, perhaps captured the essence of their differences best when he recalled Carter’s response to a question about similarities with Trump: a stern “No.”
Jimmy Carter’s century-long life embodied a commitment to service and principle. His achievements in diplomacy and humanitarianism stand as a testament to his enduring legacy.
Land a High-Paying Web3 Job in 90 Days: The Ultimate Roadmap