Jimmy Carter

President Carter: The White House Years by Stuart Eizenstat

Tier 3

Few presidents are as enigmatic as Jimmy Carter. His presidency, marked by notable achievements and daunting challenges, is often viewed through the lens of his character - a good man grappling with the complexities of the Oval Office. Eizenstat’s book seeks to unravel the intricacies of Carter's time in office, offering insights into the man behind the presidency. The book provides a somewhat nuanced perspective on Carter's tenure, emphasizing his admirable qualities and (occasionally) touching on his failures. Overall, as with so many of these books, it leans hagiographic. Carter was easy to fall in love with, and Eizenstat was a longtime friend who worked with Carter on his gubernatorial campaign and 1976 presidential campaign and served in his White House. You won’t get an unbiased view of the man from someone like that.

Jimmy Carter's presidency was characterized by a strong moral compass and an unwavering commitment to public service. The book paints a vivid picture of a man guided by principles, determined to bring honesty and integrity to the highest office in the land. Carter's accomplishments ranged from brokering the Camp David Accords to advancing environmental policies. Yet, as the narrative unfolds, it becomes apparent that the challenges he faced were formidable, and his approach fell short of expectations.

One of the critical aspects I took away from this book (and my other reading on his presidency) is Carter's struggle to harness the full potential of the bully pulpit. The presidency inherently comes with a platform for influence, a powerful tool for shaping public opinion and rallying support. Think of how the Roosevelts used the public to advance their positions and standing. This is an essential aspect of being president. You need to get the people on your side to push through any sort of transformative legislation. Unfortunately, Carter seemed unable to leverage this tool effectively. Whether it was grappling with economic crises, the Iranian hostage crisis, or the energy crisis, Carter struggled to communicate a compelling narrative that resonated with the American people. In the end, this doomed him. It doesn’t matter how good your ideas are. You need to get the people on your side. You need to have them believe that you are helping them. Carter never managed this.

His inability to project strength and decisiveness during these tumultuous times contributed to a perception of weakness. The book suggests that Carter's communication style, often perceived as aloof and detached, hindered his ability to connect with the American public on an emotional level. While his authenticity was commendable, it was insufficient when it came to navigating the complexities of global politics and his considerable domestic challenges. Part of this was simply the changing times. Much of what he attempted, notably his “crisis of confidence” speech to the American public, may have played well at a different time with a different man. But post-Watergate, with a Republican machine grinding away at him, he didn’t read the room and suffered for it.

While Eizenstat’s book delves into the intricacies of Carter's time in office, I yearned for a more comprehensive exploration of his life before and after the presidency. Though offering valuable insights into his presidency, the book leaves some gaps in the broader narrative of Carter's remarkable life. I’m going to look for another book on him that delves more fully into his early years, rise to power, and impactful post-presidency.

President Carter: The White House Years provides a thought-provoking examination of Jimmy Carter's presidency, shedding light on the challenges and triumphs of a man who held the highest office during a pivotal period in history. Coming from a former staffer, the book glosses over too many of his failures and doesn’t grapple with the reasons behind them. A good biography must be willing to be critical, and I don’t think Eizenstat had that in him. Still, Carter is an important president and a good man. He tried to do what he thought was best. In many ways, his story is one of the corruption of the presidency. He took office in the wake of Watergate with a nation ready to be reshaped. He thought he could do it through honesty and virtue, but he was wrong. It took a different sort of man with different values to do that. Carter learned a hard truth—the Oval Office is no place for an honest man.