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The definitive history of the Carter Administration from the man who participated in its surprising number of accomplishments--drawing on his extensive and never-before-seen notes.
Stuart Eizenstat was at Jimmy Carter's side from his political rise in Georgia through four years in the White House, where he served as Chief Domestic Policy Adviser. He was directly involved in all domestic and economic decisions as well as in many foreign policy ones. Famous for the legal pads he took to every meeting, he draws on more than 5,000 pages of notes and 350 interviews of all the major figures of the time, to write the comprehensive history of an underappreciated president--and to give an intimate view on how the presidency works. Eizenstat reveals the grueling negotiations behind Carter's peace between Israel and Egypt, what led to the return of the Panama Canal, and how Carter made human rights a presidential imperative. He follows Carter's passing of America's first comprehensive energy policy, and his deregulation of the oil, gas, transportation, and communications industries. And he details the creation of the modern vice-presidency. Eizenstat also details Carter's many missteps, including the Iranian Hostage Crisis, because Carter's desire to do the right thing, not the political thing, often hurt him and alienated Congress. His willingness to tackle intractable problems, however, led to major, long-lasting accomplishments. This major work of history shows first-hand where Carter succeeded, where he failed, and how he set up many successes of later presidents.STUART E. EIZENSTAT was the chief White House domestic policy adviser to President Jimmy Carter and served as the United States Ambassador to the European Union from 1993 to 1996 and as the United States Deputy Secretary of the Treasury from 1999 to 2001.
Stuart is the author of Imperfect Justice and President Carter."When I need to find out what I did when I was president--and I say that without exaggeration, because it's really honestly told, I go to Stu Eizenstat's book." --President Jimmy Carter, Maranatha Baptist Church
"A comprehensive and persuasive account of Carter's presidency that stands far above the familiar confessional and reveal-all accounts by former White House officials we are accustomed to reading. ... Eizenstat offers a compelling narrative filled with colorful stories ... Political junkies and presidential-history buffs will love this book. Eizenstat has succeeded in showing that the Carter presidency had a huge impact on American political life." --The Washington Post "Eizenstat has produced a thoughtful, measured and compelling account that bemoans Carter's weaknesses even as it extols his strengths. It fills a gaping void on the presidential bookshelf. Until now, there has never been a satisfying full-length history of [Carter's] presidency. Eizenstat closes that gap." --The New York Times "Eizenstat's account is fascinating: detailed, intimate, even page-turning... From Stuart Eizenstat, you can learn a great deal -- about Carter, sure, but also about the presidency at large." --The National Review "Rich and fascinating" --Salon "It's nearly 1,000 pages long, but...it moves like a rocket, as does he, with seamless writing and exhaustive detail, interviews with everybody and anybody." --Neil Cavuto, Fox News "Definitive book on Carter" --The New Republic "It's clearly, even entertainingly written and worth reading even if you're not a Carter fan or a student of modern American history or political science. ... To say 'President Carter' is the definitive history of the administration is an understatement." --Atlanta Jewish Times "Astonishing and instructive" --The Weekly Standard "An astute, often shocking, behind-the-scenes chronicle." --Kirkus Reviews (starred review)