Ford and Carter

Generalization: While Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter were both decent men, neither of them was an exceptionally great leader. Neither of them seemed to have a clear vision of what America should be, nor did either succeed in keeping their promises to the American people. Comment.

Potential ID’s: GERALD FORD, WIN!, SALT, DETENTE, KHMER ROUGE, OPEC, JIMMY CARTER, BORN-AGAIN CHRISTIANS, HELSINKI ACCORDS

I.   Introduction

II.   Ford background

III.   Attempts to salvage Nixon achievements
A.   Deficit control
B.   WIN!
C.   Foreign policy: Détente

IV.   Crippling of Ford administration

V.   Results
A.   SALT talks break down
B.   Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos fall to communists
C.   OPEC goes uncontrolled
D.   Economic problems skyrocket

VI.   Ford seeks an election mandate

VII.   Who will lead the Democrats?

VIII.   Jimmy Carter: Background

IX.   1976 Campaign: Who was this Jimmy Carter?

X.   Carter as president
A.   Foreign policy blunders
1.   Nicaragua
2.   Iran
3.   Afghanistan
B.   Failed social policy
C.   Failed economic policy