James Earl Carter, Jr.

Birth-Death: (1924 -     ) Term: (1977-1981 )

President Carter's chief concerns in the United States were rising inflation and energy costs. Nuclear Power Plants became a public concern, for the nation needed power sources at a time when oil became scarce following a revolution in Iran, a major oil supplier in the Middle East.

Domestic Events of Jimmy Carter

    The major events during the presidency of Jimmy Carter were associated with the energy issues. On March 29th, 1979 the Three Mile Island Nuclear Power Plant overheated and low-level radioactive gases were released into the atmosphere. After the malfunction of the reactor, nuclear power plants became questionable sources of energy. The media drama created questions in the hearts of the nation about the safety of the power plans. The people were even more swayed against the use of nuclear power plans when the facts about nuclear power plants came out. The brochures stated that workers exposed to ³tolerable² amounts of radiation now had a higher risk for cancer, that nuclear waste was dangerous for thousands of years, there was inadequate regulation of the power plants and even the basic rules were not enforced. Even though the some of these reactionary opinions were not completely true, the event made people think about the safety of nuclear power plants.

    The accident at the Three Mile Island power plant coincided with another energy shortage. Iran, a member of OPEC, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, experienced a revolution in 1979 which disrupted the world oil supply. The United States experienced another oil crisis as gasoline shortage led to high prices and long lines at gas stations. On July 15th Carter announced his Six-point energy plan. The main points stated that never again would the United States import more oil than in 1977, when it averaged more than 8.5 millions barrels a day and a peacetime financial commitment would be given for the development of alternative energy sources.