I think the one event that, more than anything else, ended his chance of re-election was the failed attempt to rescue American embassy staff held hostage in Iran following the revolution. That was in April of 1980, election year. My impression was that the public hadn't forgotten or forgiven that by November. Maybe Reagan would have won anyway, but that certainly contributed.

Was it Carter's 'fault'? Perhaps not, but it happened on his watch and he was held to blame. Reagan got the credit for the eventual release of the hostages, but I think that was more an act of spite towards Carter on the part of the Ayatollah than any virtue or skill of Reagan.

What I remember most clearly was the closing pledge of his stump speech: "... and I will never lie to you." This sounds pretty odd, as honesty is a kind of baseline human behavior for normal adults. But this was the post-Watergate election, and every Democrat was running against Nixon's crooked record of crimes and repeated lies to the American people. Carter won in 1976, in part, because he was so clearly a decent, honest, and religious man in total contrast not to Jerry Ford his opponent, but to Richard Nixon.

It's remarkable to me, looking back, how many presidents since Carter have lied to us. It's even arguable that Carter lost to Reagan in 1980 because people didn't like the truths he told, about the economy, about international affairs, and about the national mood. He wasn't the most successful president in modern history, but as others have said already, he was certainly one of the most decent ones.

speaking of whom, visiting kiev is quite a diplomatic statement. i hope cw sees fit to write about its symbolism and possible impact.

But, isn't president Carter receiving hospice care at home?