Prior to those 12 years of Republican administrations, Jimmy Carter's four-year presidency, which spanned from 1977 to 1981, is often critiqued for several key issues leading to his loss of re-election. Many consider his job performance earned him the title of “the worst American President”. Until now.
So how did Joseph R Biden deal with the issues Carter failed at and did he earn the rank of a better or worse chief executive than “the worst”?
[U.S. News #21, Siena College's Presidential Expert Poll (2022) #22, C-SPAN Presidential Historians Survey (2021) #19, Presidential Greatness Survey (2024) #24]
Sources: Siena College's Presidential Expert Poll (2022), C-SPAN Presidential Historians Survey (2021), Presidential Greatness Survey (2024) • President Biden's ranking was removed from the Siena College results by U.S. News for comparability to the other surveys.
Sources: Siena College's Presidential Expert Poll (2022), C-SPAN Presidential Historians Survey (2021), Presidential Greatness Survey (2024) • President Biden's ranking was removed from the Siena College results by U.S. News for comparability to the other surveys.
Books will be written on the comparisons and contrasts for decades as new revelations and declassifications come out, but here are five of the worst things Jimmy, who died December 30, 2024 at age 100, left as his legacy and how Biden dealt with each. Incidentally, American flags will be flying at half-mast for Trump’s January 20 inauguration after his death because Federal guidelines state that the flag must be “half-staff for 30 days at all federal buildings, grounds, and naval vessels throughout the United States and its territories and possessions after the death of the president or a former president.”
Iran Hostage Crisis: This crisis, where 52 American diplomats and citizens were held hostage for 444 days, significantly damaged Carter's image and was pivotal in his 1980 election loss. The failed rescue mission, Operation Eagle Claw, further highlighted perceived weaknesses in his foreign policy approach.
Biden's administration engaged in negotiations that led to the release of American hostages held in Iran in 2023. This involved a deal where $6 billion in Iranian assets were unfrozen for humanitarian use in exchange for the release of detained Americans. Critics argue this move incentivizes hostage-taking, but supporters see it as effective diplomacy in bringing citizens home. However, Biden's approach differs significantly from Carter's, focusing more on diplomatic and financial leverage rather than military action. Biden has also left 7 American hostages in Gaza after the October 7th 2023 attack on Isreal for the new administration to rescue.
Economic Challenges - Stagflation: Carter's administration faced severe economic issues, including high inflation, unemployment, and slow economic growth, collectively known as stagflation. Critics argue that his policies did not effectively tackle these problems, leading to public dissatisfaction.
His term was marked by energy shortages, leading to long gas lines and a sense of crisis. Carter's response, including his "malaise speech," was seen by some as an acknowledgment of deep-seated problems without providing effective solutions, contributing to his image as an ineffective leader during economic turmoil.
Biden stoked inflation during the post-COVID-19 recovery. His administration passed significant legislation like the American Rescue Plan to stimulate the economy, which greatly contributed to inflation. Unlike Carter's era, Biden has not faced the same level of stagflation but has been criticized for inflation rates. His approach includes policies aimed at supply chain improvements, infrastructure investment, spending on foreign wars like Ukraine and direct aid to citizens (Ie. student loan forgiveness), which differs from Carter's approach in both scale and focus.
Biden stoked inflation during the post-COVID-19 recovery. His administration passed significant legislation like the American Rescue Plan to stimulate the economy, which greatly contributed to inflation. Unlike Carter's era, Biden has not faced the same level of stagflation but has been criticized for inflation rates. His approach includes policies aimed at supply chain improvements, infrastructure investment, spending on foreign wars like Ukraine and direct aid to citizens (Ie. student loan forgiveness), which differs from Carter's approach in both scale and focus.
Panama Canal Treaties: While some view these treaties as positive steps towards international cooperation, critics argue that giving control of the Panama Canal to Panama was a significant blunder, especially considering later geopolitical developments involving China's influence in the region.
Panama is of the subjects President-elect Donald Trump chose to elevate via social media posts on Christmas morning was the Panama Canal — a choice at once amazing and apt.
Amazing, first, because the canal was not a featured issue in the 2024 presidential campaign, nor had it been in Trump's previous campaigns. It was not a focus of his foreign policy during his first term as president and, in fact, has not been salient in American politics or policy debates since the era of disco. But in a Truth Social post and then a preholiday speech in Phoenix, Trump demanded lower shipping rates through the canal or "we will demand that the Panama Canal be returned to us, in full, quickly and without question." The return to Panama has also reminded us of Trump's unparalleled ability to remake the political conversation all by himself in the middle of the night. Was he intending to reopen the canal debate and pressure Panama into lower fees for U.S. shipping? Is there a similar design behind the Greenland demands? Or is there more to the Canada mention than a desire to troll Prime Minister Justin Trudeau? It could become clear what form of pressure Trump is ready to bring on Panama — if any — when he is back in office.
Panama is of the subjects President-elect Donald Trump chose to elevate via social media posts on Christmas morning was the Panama Canal — a choice at once amazing and apt.
Amazing, first, because the canal was not a featured issue in the 2024 presidential campaign, nor had it been in Trump's previous campaigns. It was not a focus of his foreign policy during his first term as president and, in fact, has not been salient in American politics or policy debates since the era of disco. But in a Truth Social post and then a preholiday speech in Phoenix, Trump demanded lower shipping rates through the canal or "we will demand that the Panama Canal be returned to us, in full, quickly and without question." The return to Panama has also reminded us of Trump's unparalleled ability to remake the political conversation all by himself in the middle of the night. Was he intending to reopen the canal debate and pressure Panama into lower fees for U.S. shipping? Is there a similar design behind the Greenland demands? Or is there more to the Canada mention than a desire to troll Prime Minister Justin Trudeau? It could become clear what form of pressure Trump is ready to bring on Panama — if any — when he is back in office.
If nothing else, the reminder of Carter’s history with Panama at the same time photos released that reveal long denied House Oversight Committee’s investigative findings that Hunter Biden arranged for his father to meet with Jonathan Li and other BHR executives during a 2013 China trip, where ‘Mr. Li sought — and received — access to Vice President Biden’s political power,’” and other Biden administration pro-China dealings.
Yet, for Trump to raise it now made a kind of sense. It fit with Trump's other promises and threats stressing his "America First" theme in U.S. trade and foreign relations. The president-elect has long promoted the idea that the U.S. has been exploited and short-changed and even pushed around by allies and beneficiaries — not to mention rivals such as China.
Creation of the Department of Education: The establishment of this department, by Carter on October 17, 1979, is often cited by critics as leading to increased federal control over education, which they argue has not improved educational outcomes but rather has led to bureaucratic expansion and inefficiency. Joe Biden's handling of the Department of Education during his term can be characterized by several key initiatives and policies:
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Reopening Schools During the Pandemic:
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Biden's administration focused on safely reopening schools amid the COVID-19 crisis. They provided significant funding through the American Rescue Plan to support schools in managing the transition back to in-person learning, including resources for testing, PPE, and infrastructure improvements. The goal was to have most K-8 schools open for in-person learning within his first 100 days in office.
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Equity and Civil Rights in Education:
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Advancing educational equity was a priority, with actions like issuing guidance to ensure schools address racial disparities and providing resources to support students from marginalized communities. This included efforts to desegregate schools and funding for magnet schools to promote diversity.
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Student Loan Forgiveness and Higher Education:
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Biden's administration has worked on student loan forgiveness, notably through changes to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, making it easier for public servants to qualify for debt relief. They've also proposed changes to income-driven repayment plans to lower monthly payments for many borrowers.
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Policy Reversals and New Regulations:
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The administration reversed several Trump-era policies, particularly in areas like Title IX enforcement, aiming to protect students from sexual violence more effectively and to ensure protections for transgender students. Biden also aimed to strengthen oversight of for-profit colleges.
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Funding and Grants:
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There have been substantial financial commitments to education, with increases in funding for Title I schools, Head Start, and other programs aimed at supporting early childhood education and reducing educational disparities. The administration has also focused on funding to address chronic absenteeism and improve academic outcomes.
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Criticism and Controversies:
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Biden's Department of Education has faced criticism from various quarters. Some conservative groups and commentators have accused the department of targeting religious and for-profit institutions, potentially through selective enforcement of regulations or through funding decisions aimed at advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
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Appointments and Leadership:
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Biden appointed Miguel Cardona as Secretary of Education, who has been purloined for his focus on equity and criticized for not having a clear agenda on some educational reforms. The administration also made appointments with strong ties to teachers' unions, reflecting a policy direction influenced by these groups. In FY 2024, the Department of Education (ED) had $241.66 Billion yet failed to improve math and reading scored nationwide.
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Overall, Biden's approach has been to leverage federal funding and policy to address immediate educational challenges like those posed by the pandemic, while also pushing for long-term reforms in equity, student debt relief, and civil rights protections. However, his policies have sparked debate, particularly around issues of educational choice, the role of federal oversight, and the direction of educational policy towards social justice issues. All of the above left unresolved in only one term.
Overall, Biden's approach has been to leverage federal funding, adding $10 Trillion of new debt, ($208B during Carter) and progressive policies ruled unconstitutional on student loan debt forgiveness to address educational challenges like those posed by the pandemic, while also pushing DEI and Title IX sex inclusion for long-term reforms in equity, student debt relief, and civil rights.
However, his policies and spending have done little to improve the American experience, particularly around issues of educational choice, leaving the role of federal oversight unresolved, as well as the direction of educational policy towards Democrats' favored social justice issues.
It's fair to say the Biden/Harris administration will go does as one of the two worst Presidential administrations in American history. Thankfully each were given only one term by voters.
Editorial comments expressed in this column are the sole opinion of the writer.
Overall, Biden's approach has been to leverage federal funding, adding $10 Trillion of new debt, ($208B during Carter) and progressive policies ruled unconstitutional on student loan debt forgiveness to address educational challenges like those posed by the pandemic, while also pushing DEI and Title IX sex inclusion for long-term reforms in equity, student debt relief, and civil rights.
However, his policies and spending have done little to improve the American experience, particularly around issues of educational choice, leaving the role of federal oversight unresolved, as well as the direction of educational policy towards Democrats' favored social justice issues.
It's fair to say the Biden/Harris administration will go does as one of the two worst Presidential administrations in American history. Thankfully each were given only one term by voters.
Editorial comments expressed in this column are the sole opinion of the writer.
