An outsider in the White House : Jimmy Carter, his advisors, and the making of American foreign policy /
Glad, Betty.
Ithaca, N.Y. : Cornell University Press,
2009.
Jimmy Carter entered the White House with a desire for a collegial staff that would aid his foreign-policy decision making. He wound up with a "team of rivals" who contended for influence and who fought over his every move regarding relations with the USSR, the Peoples' Republic of China, arms control, and other crucial foreign-policy issues. Carter, the outsider who had sought to change the political culture of the executive office, found himself dependent on the very insiders of the political and diplomatic establishment against whom he had campaigned. Based on recently declassified documents and a wide variety of interviews, this is a rich and nuanced depiction of the relationship between policy and character. It is also a poignant history of damaged ideals. Carter's absolute commitment to human rights foundered on what were seen as national security interests. In the Camp David Accords and the return of the Canal to Panama, Carter's successes were attributable to his political skills and the assistance of Secretary of State Cyrus Vance. Near the end of Carter's single term in office Vance stepped down as secretary of state, in part because tactician Zbigniew Brzezinski's "muscular diplomacy" had come to dominate Carter's foreign policy. For Carter, the rivalry for influence in the White House was concluded and the results, as Glad shows, were a mixed record and an uncertain presidential legacy.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 373-385) and index.
High expectations -- The foreign policy team -- The Brzezinski advantage -- Early fumbles -- Recovery -- Human rights and the Soviet target -- Competition in the horn of Africa -- Negotiations with Panama -- Dealing with congress -- Salt and the senate -- The tilt toward China -- Building the security relationship -- The impact of a motivated tactician -- Maestro of the Camp David talks -- Support teams and the road ahead -- Confronting a regime change -- Scrambling for options -- The Soviet Brigade "crisis" -- Afghanistan: formulating a response -- Exacting a price -- MAD and the pursuit of PD-59 -- Shadowing the Soviets -- The enemy of my enemy is my friend -- The death of the archbishop -- Operation Eagle Claw -- The final months -- Jimmy Carter and the American mission.
Jimmy Carter entered the White House with a desire for a collegial staff that would aid his foreign-policy decision making. He wound up with a "team of rivals" who contended for influence and who fought over his every move regarding relations with the USSR, the Peoples' Republic of China, arms control, and other crucial foreign-policy issues. Carter, the outsider who had sought to change the political culture of the executive office, found himself dependent on the very insiders of the political and diplomatic establishment against whom he had campaigned. Based on recently declassified documents and a wide variety of interviews, this is a rich and nuanced depiction of the relationship between policy and character. It is also a poignant history of damaged ideals. Carter's absolute commitment to human rights foundered on what were seen as national security interests. In the Camp David Accords and the return of the Canal to Panama, Carter's successes were attributable to his political skills and the assistance of Secretary of State Cyrus Vance. Near the end of Carter's single term in office Vance stepped down as secretary of state, in part because tactician Zbigniew Brzezinski's "muscular diplomacy" had come to dominate Carter's foreign policy. For Carter, the rivalry for influence in the White House was concluded and the results, as Glad shows, were a mixed record and an uncertain presidential legacy.
Carter, Jimmy, 1924-
Presidents