WI: Carter handles 'Malaise' Speech better

The speech had caused his approval ratings to shoot up eleven percent and was, in short-term, very well received. It's sentiments were very similiar to Kennedy's famous "Ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country" quote. On the other hand, it was almost instantly nullified by the cabinet resignation blunder three days later which caused confusion and the notion that the government was in a meltdown. There is an hypothesis that if this blunder hadn't been made or it was changed drastically (only the five people who resigned were asked to resign, it happened at a later date, etc.) ...it could have changed America's direction dramatically. So, would anything have changed if the speech was handled better? If so, how?
 
I still don't think it improves things much- anyone of the '76 candidates would have serious issues getting re-elected in '80. Kennedy will still challenge Carter, and might do better than IOTL. I still doubt he could deny Carter renomination or wish to force his way onto a losing ticket.
 
He could have never made the speech and the resignations could have never taken place. And he would have still lost if his handling of the Hostage crises nad his 'Rose Garden' campaign strategy remains unchanged. He lost because Americans were tired of being told they were powerless by his actions, and Reagan saying they could do anything the wanted, if they just believed.
 
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