AHC: Salvage the Carter Presidency

Jimmy Carter was swept into office because he was an outsider and an every man who promised to never lie to the American people, and he appealed to a public disgusted by the Watergate scandal. He offered hope and honesty and was the polar opposite to Nixon. His presidency was one of malaise, however, with things such as a continuing recession, rising crime rate and infrastructural decay in America, an energy crisis and the Iran hostage crisis. Carter also lost the evangelicals by refusing to overtly make religion influence government; a factor that cost him their support and lead them to go over to Ronald Reagan in 1980.

The challenge here is to salvage the Carter presidency and manage to get him elected in 1980.
 
I think he'd probably need some combination of most or all of these:

  • Delta Force operation to rescue Iran hostages succedes
  • Replaces Walter Mondale on ticket with Ted Kennedy in 1980 in order to prevent the primary challenge
  • He never gives the malaise speech
  • Doesn't reinstate mandatory draft registration
  • Some semblance of economic recovery. This is the biggest thing, along with the Iran hostages.
 
Perhaps he decides to give a little bit in his dealings with Congress, in order to get some aspects of his legislative agenda passed.
 
I've always thought of Carter as one of the few honest presidents. That said, the only conceivable way I can think of creating a successful Carter presidency is to avoid breaking the Watergate/Agnew scandals until the late 70's assuming Agnew wins in '76. This would allow him to be swept in and actually effect change.
 
While there are plenty of events that damaged Jimmy Carter's presidency, many were not directly in his control. But there was one decision made by Carter that doomed many of his proposals and greatly limited the success of his presidency. Upon entering the White House, Carter took a very negative view of Congress. He rarely consulted Tip O'Neil, Robert Byrd, or the Republican leadership before proposing legislation. This led to embarrassments on a variety of issues, and presented an opportunity for Ted Kennedy to gain a great deal of establishment support. Reagan proved how important a working relationship with Congress is for a successful presidency. Carter still might have lost in 1980, but he would have been in a much stronger position if he had worked with Congress to pass strong legislation.
 
I think he'd probably need some combination of most or all of these:


  • [*]Delta Force operation to rescue Iran hostages succedes
  • Replaces Walter Mondale on ticket with Ted Kennedy in 1980 in order to prevent the primary challenge
  • He never gives the malaise speech
  • Doesn't reinstate mandatory draft registration
  • Some semblance of economic recovery. This is the biggest thing, along with the Iran hostages.

How about: No Iran hostage crisis.
 
Constitutional monarchy in Iran no Islamic Republic, no hostage crisis. Gas prices don't suddenly rise so the economy is better.
 
The Malaise speech wasn't the problem, in fact it boosted his popularity , the problem was asking for the resignations of his entire cabinet! That made him look less like a leader and more out of touch.
 
If Carter had been able to actually work with congress, then he would have got more passed. He could have tolerated more pork barrel projects, while being closer to Tip O'Neill. Finally avoiding the Burt Lance scandal would boost his stature
By appointing Vogel earlier he could have maybe reduced inflation and finally, if he had backed a peaceful transition to power, it would have butterflies the Iran Hostage crisis and reduced or possibly prevented, the 1979 Oil Crisis. If he does give the Malaise speech, it could benefit him with new programs and not firing half his cabinet. With this, a better economy due to more public works programs, and Vogel’s anti inflationary tactics earlier, he could have defeated Ted Kennedy in 1980 and Ronald Reagan in the General election, but only by a tight margin.
 
I would have to agree with the notion Carter's failures with Congress were his biggest problem in the long run. Iran was on our minds during the election season, but if Carter had success in every other area, I don't think people would hold it against him so much.

I also think Carter did a shitty job maintaining his image. In a lot of his election stuff, he comes off as a good-natured guy, but in some of his presidential speeches, he's condescending and kind of talking down to the American people.

Maybe have Carter use Mondale to moderate between himself and Congress, much like Biden does when Obama has difficulties here, and get some legislation passed, and get him some image control people like Reagan, and it'll do a HELL of a lot of good.
 
Operation Eagle Claw succeeds. Ted Kennedy drops out of the primaries soon after. Democrats rally round Carter and attack Reagan as an untrustworthy right-wing nut, while subtly boosting up Anderson to help split off the Republican centre.
 
If his press secretary didn't blab the about the bunny to the media it may help as well.

What ever his faults Carter did deregulated the US beer industry allowing micro-breweries to start up, giving wider choice of better beers in the USA like Sam Adams, Steam Anchor, Fat Tyre and many many more.
 
Operation Eagle Claw succeeds. Ted Kennedy drops out of the primaries soon after. Democrats rally round Carter and attack Reagan as an untrustworthy right-wing nut, while subtly boosting up Anderson to help split off the Republican centre.

This is, coincidentally, exactly what is currently happening in my TL, Jesus Walks. Minus the propping up Anderson, but that's because his campaign was butterflied away.

A successful Eagle Claw is the best-case scenario for Carter, it would give him a boost in an area he lacked credibility on. However, it does nothing to solve the economy, which Reagan would probably double down on if the public opinion swung hard for Carter over Eagle Claw. The economy would be the major issue of the election though, so Reagan would probably still win, though not as crushingly as he did OTL.
 
This is, coincidentally, exactly what is currently happening in my TL, Jesus Walks. Minus the propping up Anderson, but that's because his campaign was butterflied away.

A successful Eagle Claw is the best-case scenario for Carter, it would give him a boost in an area he lacked credibility on. However, it does nothing to solve the economy, which Reagan would probably double down on if the public opinion swung hard for Carter over Eagle Claw. The economy would be the major issue of the election though, so Reagan would probably still win, though not as crushingly as he did OTL.

There is still the bad economy. I think a successful Eagle Claw means a narrower Reagan victory with a Democratic Senate. There are, however, enough conservative Southern Democrats that vote to pass Reagan's tax and budget cuts.
 
Top