james earl carter

Despite being considerate, compassionate, well informed, and one of the nation's most intelligent presidents, Carter was at best a mediocre president and at worst the head of a failed administration, Kaufman contends. He came to the White House long on intentions but short on know-how, Kaufman maintains, and although he worked diligently to win support for his policies and programs, he failed to establish the base of public and political legitimacy he needed to be a successful trustee president.

Although some revisionists are now suggesting Carter's contemporary critics misjudged the administration or applied unfair standards in evaluating Carter's presidency, Kaufman believes the original evaluations were essentially correct. Unlike those revisionists' writings, The Presidency of James Earl Carter, Jr., is based on newly available files and papers in the Carter Library.

Concentrating on the major issues of the Carter administration, including arms control, the energy crisis, inflation, affirmative action, and the Iranian hostage crisis, Kaufman illustrates how this complex, inconsistent, and often contradictory president never adequately articulated an overarching purpose and direction for his administration.

This book is part of the American Presidency Series.

Including previously undisclosed information on one of the most significant and mysterious events in modern American history, this account debunks the myth that James Earl Ray was a racist and documents his actual location on one of the critical days leading up to the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. The memoir also reveals photographs of James Earl Ray when he was ill in prison and gives the key to a code used by the brothers in planning a prison break. Presenting a mesmerizing perspective on the manipulation of the media in reporting on race relations, the working middle class, and the U.S. criminal justice system, this account broadcasts an urgent call to action to correct some of the many injustices that surround these events, such as the U.S. government's refusal to rigorously test the alleged murder weapon, and encourages support for new federal legislation.