James Earl Carter, Jr.

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

The United States entered a period of crisis when a revolution in Iran caused the price of oil to soar. The nation was in need of a less dependent energy source. On the global scale, Cold War tensions continued, and the U.S. became involved with peace developments in the Middle East.

Major Events with Jimmy Carter

1979 - Camp David Accord

    The Camp David Accord was the final step in a long process of negotiations between Israel and Egypt in the 1970s. After both countries stated that war would not solve the problems in the Middle East, these talks were held in Maryland and the treaty was officially signed on the White House lawn on March 26th, 1979.

1979 - SALT II Agreement

    The Second Strategic Arms Limitation Agreement was proposed after the SALT I agreement signed by Nixon and Kosygin expired in December of 1977. The Carter-Brezhnev SALT II agreement put many more limits on various types of nuclear missiles, submarine launched missiles, and bombers. It also limited the number of warheads on each missile and warhead weights. Unfortunately this treaty was never ratified by the US Senate because the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan. However, both presidents Carter and Reagan followed it.

1979 - Three Mile Island Nuclear Power Plant Accident

    On March 29th, 1979 a reactor in nuclear power plain in Middletown, Pennsylvania overheated and allowed the release of some low-level radioactive gases into the atmosphere. There was also a threat of a giant explosion after some metal parts inside the power plant melted because of the extremely high temperature.

    Although the reactor never exploded, it did stir up attention about the safety of nuclear power. After the public found out that nuclear wastes remain active for thousands of years, that the regulation of the power plants is inadequate and is rarely enforced, public opinion turned towards traditional and alternative, non-nuclear ways to produce energy.

1979 - Carter's Six Point Energy Plan

    The energy plan was a direct response to the energy crisis that hit the United States months before. There were six general steps that Carter thought would decrease the need for oil by the United States. First, he would never again allow 8.5 million barrels per day to be imported into the United States. Secondly, a commitment of funds and resources was given to develop energy from coal and shale. In addittion, an energy security corporation and a solar bank were established to direct and finance these new sources for energy. Moreover, Congress would be asked to require the nationıs utilities to cut their power input by fifty percent. Finally Congress would be asked to spend ten billion dollars on public mass transportation in the following ten years and create a board of directors responsible for "cutting through the red tape" that delayed energy projects.

1979 - The Iranian Hostage Crisis

    The United States had sponsored a general Westernization of Iran throughout the 1960s and 70s. This included building of many new factories, establishment of compulsory education, womenıs suffrage, and others. However, the traditional Iranians disliked the White Revolution. When the Shah left Iran on January 16, 1979, the situation de-stabilized very quickly. Less than a month later, a new government was in place, led by the Ayatollah Khomeini. At the time of the revolution fifty-two Americans from the embassy were taken hostage.

    During the next year President Carter tried every possible way to get the American hostages back, but the Iranians would not bulge. It was only when President Reagan was elected that the intimidated Iranians released the hostages.