[Sosfbay-discuss] July 1979 - Jimmy Carter's 'Crisis of Confidence' Speech

[alexcathy at aol.com]

July 1979 -- Jimmy Carter's 'Crisis of Confidence' Speech

 







SUMMER 1979: The Islamic Revolution in Iran creates an "oil shock" in
the United States with long lines at gasoline stations. Democratic
President Jimmy Carter is scheduled to address the nation, but cancels
at the last minute. 10 days, Carter reemerges with a speech. 



Carter addresses the energy crisis, unemployment, inflation and our "Crisis of Confidence."







The threat is nearly invisible in ordinary ways. It is a crisis of
confidence. It is a crisis that strikes at the very heart and soul and
spirit of our national will. We can see this crisis in the growing
doubt about the meaning of our own lives and in the loss of a unity of
purpose for our nation.







Ronald Reagan and the Republicans eventually triumph by, among other
things, ridiculing Carter for his "malaise speech" and blasting him for
"weakness" in Iran and Afghanistan. Thirty long years later the
Republican so-called conservative clique, despite presiding over the
worst administration in U.S. history and the election of a popular
young Democratic president, still dominates the political debate in
California and the nation while the weak, divided, pitiful, U.S. "left"
struggles to find its voice. 






READ MORE AND COMMENT AT:

http://cagreening.blogspot.com/2009/07/july-1979-jimmy-carters-crisis-of.html

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