Carter, Jr., James Earl "Jimmy"

Published: September 14, 2006, 1:27 pm

Contributing Author: Brian Black

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James Earl "Jimmy" Carter (1924-) was the 39th President of the United States (1977-1981), who governed during a time of tumultuous energy, economic, and geopolitical events. Most historians argue that his presidency was defined by the Iranian Hostage Crisis; however, we can now appreciate that this episode was the start of the U.S.'s need to contend with the complexities of terrorist military tactics. A trained nuclear engineer, Carter brought a unique comprehension to the nation's energy crisis. Given 21st-century energy shortages, many historians have now taken a new look at the policies proposed by Carter in the 1970s.

In January, 1977, Carter addressed the nation regarding its use of energy and dependence on imported oil, marking the first time that a U.S. President had confronted America about its energy consumption habits. In 1977, Carter signed the Department of Energy Organization Act, creating the cabinet-level U.S. Department of Energy. In 1978, Carter signed the National Energy Act, which includes the National Energy Conservation Policy Act, the Power Plant and Industrial Fuel Use Act, the Public Utilities Regulatory Policy Act, the Energy Tax Act, and the Natural Gas Policy Act. In 1979, Carter announced gradual decontrol of oil prices and proposed a windfall profits tax on the sale of crude oil. He also declared a national energy supply shortage and established temperature restrictions in nonresidential buildings in an effort to conserve energy. He signed the Energy Security Act in 1980, another major piece of energy legislation aimed at increasing the supply of renewable and alternative energy supplies. Soaring oil prices and the resultant global recession doomed Carter’s chances of re-election in 1980.

Although he was widely criticized at the time for his emphasis on energy conservation, the recurrence of energy price shocks and greater dependence on imported oil in the following decades have led some to suggest that his concern was appropriate.

Further Reading
Biography of Jimmy Carter (The White House Homepage)
Jimmy Carter - Biography of the 39th President of the United States (The Carter Center)
The Carter Center Homepage Horowitz, Daniel. Jimmy Carter and the Energy Crisis of the 1970s . Boston: St. Martin's, 2005.

Glossary