Jimmy Carter's Place In History

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On balance, moderately unsuccessful as President. He had Congressional majorities that most of his predecessors and all of his successors would've killed for and had little to show for it. He could've achieved so much in terms of softening the blow the economic malaise of the late 70s and accomplished healthcare reform had he understood the art of politics, but alas he didn't. It says a lot that Reagan had a better working relationship with Tip O'Neil than Carter did. He was also a terrible messenger (messaging matters in politics) and the 1976 primaries aside, a terrible campaigner which was part of why the 1976 campaign was as close as it was and why 1980 was such a landslide loss. Micromanagement is also a bad trait to have in a President.

 That said, the Departments of Energy and Education were net pluses, as was his deregulation of the airline and beer industries. His appointment of Volker was also a long term benefit, but like George HW Bush and the Tax increase of 1990, it cost him politically and contributed to his loss of a 2nd term and thus wasn't able to reap the benefits of the decision. Carter was also ahead of his time in regards to energy, putting solar panels on the White House, only for Reagan to stupidly take them down.

With regard to Foreign Policy and Defense, the Camp David Accords was probably his biggest success as President, and is an achievement that is still in effect today. He also began the Defense Build up that Reagan is credited for. While the Iranian Revolution  wasn't caused by anything his administration did and Carter did the best he could once the Hostage crisis happened, he should've never allowed the Shah in for Cancer treatment and instead had him stay in Mexico and he should've shut down the embassy before it could be stormed. He did ultimately get the hostages freed, Reagan thanks to timing got the credit.

As a person, he was a great, compassionate man and one of the best leaders from a moral and ethical standpoint, if not the best that this country ever had and he was a model ex President and I think his post Presidency and all he accomplished during that time will be what ultimately shapes his legacy.