|
Jessica Lee
Author's Bio
Erwin C. Hargrove was born in 1925. Hargrove received a Ph.D. from Yale University in the arena of political science. Hargrove is currently a renowned professor at the Vanderbilt University. Not only is he learned in political science, Hargrove also excels in American emeritus. To add to the list of his accomplishments, Hargrove won the prestigious Richard E. Neustadt Award. He is also a contributing member of the Miller Center Series on the American President.
Jimmy Carter: Worst President?
Though Jimmy Carter is recognized as one of the nation's well known presidents, many historians and even the general American public qualifies this man as an amateur politician, usurping executive power despite his lack of credentials, qualifications, or the right to possess and enforce such power. Over the years, the people have increasingly characterized Jimmy Carter as one of the United States worst presidents. Jimmy Carter was viewed as an inept president who merely intensified the already hostile and unfavorable relations with foreign nations during the Cold War, and produced very little or made very ineffective legislation that lacked the logic and potential to pacify the domestic and economic woes of the United States. Even to this day, with any mention of 'Jimmy Carter', the man is immediately ridiculed as the peanut farmer who caused the Iran Hostage Crisis. In that sense, Jimmy Carter was an ineffective president, governing the superpower nation with an obscured political agenda and without the general support of his citizens. While many other publications will directly accuse Jimmy Carter of such shortcomings, other professionals make a great effort to qualify this assumption. In Jimmy Carter as President: Leadership and the Politics of the Public Good, political science professor, Erwin C. Hargrove does not proclaim Jimmy Carter as a saint; however, he justifies why cynical critics should consider the amazing accomplishments of Jimmy Carter and reevaluate their opinions of him. Hargrove does not attempt to confirm the failures of Jimmy Carter, rather, he complies a historical record that focuses on "his management of policy development within the administration and his style as a decision maker." 1
In the first two chapters of the book, "Forming a Political Style" and "Conceptions of Leadership", respectively, Hargrove introduces Jimmy Carter during his pre-presidential years. Even before obtaining the position in the oval office, Jimmy Carter is described as having a political style unique to his own personality and ideology. Hargrove characterizes Jimmy Carter as having "a deeply rooted personal style and a belief system sure to influence [his] style of governing." 2 In order to thoroughly understand Carter's direction as president, Hargrove first analyzes his ambitions and goals in his early career as a "nuclear submarine officer"3 and his post 每 maritime profession as the leader of the family enterprises in Georgia. After succeeding his father's industries in Georgia, Carter made an effort to make himself a known politician by campaigning for the governorship of Georgia in 1970. Even as a young politician, Jimmy Carter developed a political style that "joined diverse political traditions,"4 "southern religious tradition,"5 and had an appeal to a "wider diversity of groups."6 Directed by his ambition and political style, Carter was always willing and even eager to take on the most problematic issues that plagued his state and the nation. Also, a vital factor in his conception of a leader was making decisions based on the public good, not the special interests of the few, elite, or minorities. For example, Carter would not even approve legislation that would only benefit the Democratic Party, his own party. Another notable aspect of Jimmy Carter's politics was the emphasis on problem solving and comprehensiveness, "which implies a long-term view rather than a quick fix." 7 Lastly, in order to understand the events that resulted during the Carter presidency, Hargrove conveys the significance in Carter's tendency to involve himself in more problems than the capacity of the nation and stress exclusive collegiality to deal with these problems. Hargrove identifies these distinguishable characteristics of Jimmy Carter's presidential style in order to understand what reasons motivated his decisions and how he has earned such an infamous reputation.
After identifying the political traits of Jimmy Carter, Hargrove applies them to the area of Domestic and Economic Policy in the next two chapters. Hargrove subdivides these chapters to explain Carter's ideology as a practitioner of conservative liberalism, the development of organizations to carry out the conduct and legislation for domestic policy, and the domestic policy issues such as energy, welfare reform, and the department of education. Carter's most important decision regarding domestic policy, was his creation of the collegiate "Domestic Policy Staff＃under Stuart Eizenstat"8 to act as facilitators and coordinators. Carter delegated the Domestic Policy Staff with the duty of "managing the policy development process," 9 but always taking into consideration his objectives and political needs. When describing the cases of policy development on the issue of energy, Hargrove emphasizes Carter's agenda for a "conservation of energy, conversion to other sources＃ and increased domestic production of oil." 10 Next, in order to ease the issue of welfare reform, Carter employed his desire to issue reform that was comprehensive, "prowork and profamily."11 The final domestic policy issue that required attention was the possibility of the creation of a Department of Education. As for addressing the economic complexities, Carter "campaigned on the need to get the economy＃out of recession" 12 and hopefully, gradually recuperate from the ills of inflation. Carter was an active president, personally responding to the problems that submerged the nation. Carter proposed, created, and took a variety of approaches in order to salvage the fragile condition of his nation.
In the following chapter "Foreign Policy Making" Hargrove accounts the details of foreign relations and the results of these relations during the Carter administration 每a time of international tension and hostility. In this chapter, Hargrove assesses not only the failures of Carter's foreign policy but also his outstanding successes. First, Hargrove describes Jimmy Carter's foreign policy as "based on the democratic idealism of Jefferson and Wilson," 13 a foreign policy that emphasized Wilsonianism and the importance of human rights and democracy. In order to divide power and foreign policy cases among his administration, Carter created the Policy Review Committee and the Special Coordination Committee "with the responsibility of arms control, intelligence and crisis management." 14 Because foreign policy was Carter's area of expertise and profound interest, he emphasized his position as the central authority figure in the processes of foreign policy. Early in his presidency, Carter governed, guided by a foreign policy with objectives that included: "engaging Western Europe and Japan in close political and economic relationships with the United States＃economic relations with key developing nations, the development of more accommodating North-South relations among nations, a push for arms control negotiations with the Soviet Union＃ normalization of United States-China relations, obtaining comprehensive Middle East settlement, efforts to move Southern Africa toward biracial democracy, restrictions on＃global armaments, enhancement of human rights around the world and＃modernization of United States defense readiness."15 Several of Carter's successes include the Panama Canal Treaty, Egypt-Israel mediation by means of the landmark Camp David Accords, and the normalization of relations with China. However, the failures that have come to dominate the reputation of the Carter administration include the second Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT II), the Soviet Union invasion of Afghanistan, the Iranian Revolution and the subsequent Iran Hostage Crisis. By identifying both the failures and successes, Hargrove shows how the same political style produced beneficial and detrimental outcomes. Therefore, if Carter maintained his political ideology throughout his presidency, the circumstances of that time period were responsible for the negative outcomes in foreign policy, not the judgment and decision-making on behalf of the president.
Lastly, in the final chapter of the analysis, "An Appraisal of Style," Hargrove analyzes the extent of Jimmy Carter as an effective president. Hargrove identifies that "the fusion of purpose, politics, and process" create the political personality. 16 Carter's purpose: to govern for the public good, his politics: domestic, economic, and foreign policy, creating organizations, programs and legislation, and his process: stressing the importance of homework 每being prepared, comprehensiveness, and collegiality 每exclusiveness with his subordinates. Hargrove next defines Carter's political fervor to achieve "public goods in the form of comprehensive programs," 17 placing "highest priority on study and collegiality."18 Another factor that guides Hargrove's assessment of Jimmy Carter is his ideology that "presidents are effective or ineffective in part because of situational factors over which they have no control." 19 Therefore, this final chapter defends that Carter was not the direct cause for all the ill-fated events during the years of 1977 to 1981. Carter was a victim of the situation and a victim of his super ambitions, unable to impart any significant quantity of influence because of circumstantial limitations.
In Jimmy Carter as President: Leadership and the Politics of the Public Good , Erwin C. Hargrove presents his thesis, which qualifies the general belief that Jimmy Carter was essentially an ineffective president. Hargrove's thesis encompasses the ideas that our thirty-ninth president is overly judged by the failures of his presidency, overlooking the pivotal successes of his term. Therefore, this book attempts neither to disclaim nor praise Jimmy Carter; it simply sets forth the facts, allowing the audience to make a more informed response to the book and form a knowledgeable opinion of Jimmy Carter. In order to fulfill this thesis, Hargrove presents the figure of a policy politician 每 "an elected politician who concentrates on policy work and who makes the achievement of good policy his main goal." 20 Hargrove implies that Jimmy Carter was fairly chosen as president; therefore, the people should not doubt his qualifications or will power to perform his duty. Hargrove's perspective is characterized as being an unbiased observer. While composing Jimmy Carter as President, Hargrove makes an effort for impartiality with his analysis. For example, to offset the many failures, he provides the multiple successes during Carter's term. However, rather than conveying his opinion of whether or not Jimmy Carter was qualified as a president, he emphasizes that Jimmy Carter performed to his capacity, considering the limitations, circumstances, and complications of the time. Therefore, Hargrove implies that Carter was qualified to possess the position as leader of the nation, but a considerable amount of bad luck and unfortunate events has acquired for Carter a dismal reputation.
In a book review of Jimmy Carter as President from "Elusive Quest for Presidential Success", critic Raymond Tatalovich assesses the analysis made by Hargrove. For example, Tatalovich assures that "Hargrove fully appreciates that any effort to salvage Carter's reputation faces heavy odds," 21 therefore, he commends Hargrove as a person attempting to clear the misconceptions of Jimmy Carter. Tatalovich also identifies Hargrove's intention to replace the cynical views of Jimmy Carter that charge his political ineptitude as the reason for his failures with a more unbiased view of delegating the blame to circumstances beyond Carter's control. Tatalovich also agrees with Hargrove's explanation that Carter "ought to be compared with his predecessor and not his successor," 22 which implies that another contribution to Jimmy Carter's "worst president" reputation is because of the continual comparison with his successor Ronald Reagan 每a Republican that served two terms, each year experiencing less burdensome economic and domestic problems and more friendly international relations. Tatalovich says, "Simply put, Jimmy Carter was the wrong president of the wrong party at the wrong time."23 In a second book review from the publication "Journal of Southern History", Bruce B. Dierenfield also agrees with Hargrove's notion of president Carter. Dierenfield exemplifies Hargrove's assertion that "Carter was a public goods president" who "simply practiced a different kind of politics." 24 Dierenfield also approves Hargrove's analysis that Carter "seemed never to consider the political feasibility of his comprehensive initiatives." 25 Carter's only flaw was his confidence in single-handedly solving the entire nation's problems simultaneously. In both these assessments, the critics do not devalue the words of Hargrove; rather, they value his assumptions and conclusions of President Jimmy Carter.
In a personal analysis, Hargrove's analysis has greater strengths than weaknesses, creating an accurate and interesting read. The book's major strength is having an author with an impartial attitude toward his subject of biography. Hargrove does not obscure, falsify or exaggerate the information he presents. Another strength includes the format and organization of the book. Hargrove separates the book into six broad chapters that discuss the major aspects of Carter's political career. In each chapter, Hargrove begins with a general description, followed by multiple subchapters that explore the individual details of the topic. For example, in chapter five, "Foreign Policy Making," the subchapters include all the major events regarding foreign policy between the United States' relations with the world. Conversely, a major weakness of the book is the sources on which the information was based. For example, reviewer Robert John Greene claims that "Hargrove is prone to take the responses of interviewees at face value; those of domestic policy chide Stuart Eizenstat and Secretary of State Cyrus Vance are particularly treated as gospel." 26 Therefore, the book's weakness is relying too heavily on these interviews as the main provider for the basis of this composition. It is also Hargrove's weakness for believing that all the commentary he gathered from the interviews are fact, therefore, the information is based on the bias of the sources, which is generally in favor of Jimmy Carter.
According to Hargrove, the Carter administration was a significant turning point in American politics. Jimmy Carter served as the "transitional figure between [democratic] Lyndon Johnson and [republican] Ronald Reagan." 27 Therefore, his position between these two presidents is greatly responsible for his reputation as an unqualified president. This period is marked as a watershed in American politics partly because of the critical events and modifications to foreign relations. For example, Carter's leading role as negotiator in the Camp David Accords resulted in the mediation between Israeli and Egyptian ethnicities, as well as favorable relations earned between the United States and the Middle East. However, the Iranian Revolution and the subsequent Iran Hostage Crisis is an important event that contributes to his defaced image. Concerning American economic history, the years of the Carter presidency is attributed as a time of great economic upheaval. These years were remembered for its rapid decline in productivity and shocking increase in debt, inflation, unemployment, and unprecedented oil crisis. These problems have not only come to define this period in American history, it describes the reality of the critical and dire state of the nation. Therefore, this era serves as a warning to future generations, how desperate situations can become.
In an individual analysis (one that coincides with Hargrove's), the impact of this period on America is immeasurably profound, especially the impact on foreign relations. For example, the "capture of American hostages in Iran" 28 in 1979 is virtually identical to the relations America currently has with the Middle East. Therefore, current hostilities are deeply rooted in the past. Though Carter did not single-handedly produce the tension, the events during his presidency intensified this quarrel between nations. The existence of such unfavorable relations resulted in the recent terrorist attack September 11, 2001, the continuing war in Iraq, and the ongoing threat of terrorism.
In Jimmy Carter as President: Leadership and the Politics of the Public Good , Hargrove makes a bold attempt to salvage the reputation of Jimmy Carter. Hargrove implies that Carter's loss in the Election of 1980 was due to his "search for liberal centrism [which was] ahead of its time."29 Carter was too advanced for the years of the 1970s and 1980s, the legislation he sought, comprehensive and responsive to the problems that might plague the future, were simply beyond the understanding of his colleagues and citizens. Jimmy Carter was a transitional president, "and in this sense he made the most of his opportunities." 30 Carter always believed that when God provided an opportunity, he must grasp it for regret that such a chance would not arise again. Finally, one must not determine Carter's credibility, morality, and effectiveness as a politician solely based on the four years of grief, plagued with bad luck, yet blamed on his ineptness, but must instead consider the contributions he has made during his term and even his post--presidency years.
Endnotes
1. Hargrove, Erwin C. Jimmy Carter as President: Leadership and the Politics of the Public Good. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 1988, xxiv (preface).
2. Hargrove, Erwin C. 1.
3. Hargrove, Erwin C. 3.
4. Hargrove, Erwin C. 3.
5. Hargrove, Erwin C. 6.
6. Hargrove, Erwin C. 7.
7. Hargrove, Erwin C. 9.
8. Hargrove, Erwin C. 16.
9. Hargrove, Erwin C. 38.
10. Hargrove, Erwin C. 39.
11. Hargrove, Erwin C. 47.
12. Hargrove, Erwin C. 54.
13. Hargrove, Erwin C. 69.
14. Hargrove, Erwin C. 112.
15. Hargrove, Erwin C. 114.
16. Hargrove, Erwin C. 120-121.
17. Hargrove, Erwin C. 161.
18. Hargrove, Erwin C. 162.
19. Hargrove, Erwin C. 162.
20. Hargrove, Erwin C. 163.
21. Hargrove, Erwin C xix (foreword).
22. Tatalovich, Raymond. "Jimmy Carter as President." Elusive Quest for Presidential Success 261.
23. Tatalovich, Raymond 263.
24. Dierenfield, Bruce J. "Jimmy Carter as President." The Journal of Southern History 360.
25. Tatalovich, Raymond 263.
26. Dierenfield, Bruce J. 360.
27. Greene, Robert John. "Jimmy Carter as President." Oral History Review 164.
28. "Jimmy Carter as President: Leadership and the Politics of the Public Good." Rev. of Jimmy Carter as President: Leadership and the Politics of the Public Good by Erwin C. Hargrove. Louisiana State University Press. 8 June. 2007 < http://www.lsu.edu/lsupress/Books/Lightning%20Source/Hargrove_Jimmy.htm. >
29. Dierenfield, Bruce J. 360.
30. Hargrove, Erwin C. 193.
| |
