Jimmy Carter: Difference between revisions

During his presidential campaign, Carter embraced healthcare reform akin to the [[Ted Kennedy]]-sponsored bipartisan [[universal health care|universal]] [[national health insurance]].<ref>Multiple sources * {{cite news |last=Reinhold |first=Robert |date=April 17, 1976 |title=Carter proposes U.S. health plan; says he favors mandatory insurance financed from wage and general taxes |newspaper=The New York Times |page=1 |url=https://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F30717FD3E5F167493C5A8178FD85F428785F9 |quote=Although Mr. Carter left some details a bit vague today, his proposal seemed almost identical to the so-called Kennedy-Corman health security plan. His position on the issue is now substantially the same as that of his chief rivals, Senator Hubert H. Humphrey, Senator Henry M. Jackson and Representative Morris K. Udall. All three are co-sponsors of the Kennedy-Corman bill. |access-date=September 16, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130521003608/https://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F30717FD3E5F167493C5A8178FD85F428785F9 |archive-date=May 21, 2013}} * {{cite news |last=Auerbach |first=Stuart |date=April 17, 1976 |title=Carter gives broad outline for national health plan; cost unknown |newspaper=The Washington Post |page=A1 |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost_historical/access/120359627.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI |quote=The outlines of Carter's program are close to one sponsored by Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.) and strongly supported by organized labor. |access-date=March 21, 2022 |archive-date=January 30, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130130082012/https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost_historical/access/120359627.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI}} * {{cite news |agency=United Press International |date=April 17, 1976 |title=Carter urges universal health plan |newspaper=Chicago Tribune |page=4 |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/613101652.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI |quote=Although Carter didn't provide an estimate of what his health plan would cost taxpayers, it features many proposals similar to plans suggested by others, including Sen. Edward Kennedy [D., Mass.] which are estimated to cost at least $40 billion annually. |access-date=March 21, 2022 |archive-date=January 30, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130130082000/https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/613101652.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI}}</ref> Carter's proposals on healthcare while in office included an April 1977 mandatory health care cost proposal,<ref>{{cite book |year=1978 |section=Hospital cost control |title=Congressional Quarterly Almanac, 95th Congress 1st Session....1977 |volume=33 |location=Washington, D.C. |publisher=Congressional Quarterly |pages=499–507 |issn=0095-6007 |oclc=1564784}}</ref> and a June 1979 proposal that provided private health insurance coverage.<ref>{{cite book |year=1980 |section=National health insurance |title=Congressional Quarterly Almanac, 96th Congress 1st Session....1979 |volume=35 |location=Washington, D.C. |publisher=Congressional Quarterly |pages=536–540 |issn=0095-6007 |oclc=1564784}}</ref> Carter saw the June 1979 proposal as a continuation of progress in American health coverage. President [[Harry S. Truman]] proposed a designation of health care as a basic right of Americans and [[Medicare (United States)|Medicare]] and [[Medicaid]] were introduced under President [[Lyndon B. Johnson]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/national-health-plan-remarks-announcing-proposed-legislation |title=National Health Plan Remarks Announcing Proposed Legislation. (12 June 1979) |website=The American Presidency Project |last1=Peters |first1=Gerhard |last2=Woolley |first2=John T. |access-date=August 30, 2021 |archive-date=August 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210816100742/https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/national-health-plan-remarks-announcing-proposed-legislation |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/national-health-plan-message-the-congress-proposed-legislation |title=National Health Plan Message to the Congress on Proposed Legislation. (12 June 1979) |website=The American Presidency Project |last1=Peters |first1=Gerhard |last2=Woolley |first2=John T. |access-date=August 30, 2021 |archive-date=December 12, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211212140641/https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/national-health-plan-message-the-congress-proposed-legislation |url-status=live}}</ref> The April 1977 mandatory health care cost proposal was passed in the Senate,<ref>{{cite book |year=1979 |section=Hospital cost control legislation dies |title=Congressional Quarterly Almanac, 95th Congress 2nd Session....1978 |volume=34 |location=Washington, D.C. |publisher=Congressional Quarterly |pages=619–625 |issn=0095-6007 |oclc=1564784}}</ref> but later defeated in the House.<ref>{{cite book |year=1980 |chapter=House kills Carter hospital cost control plan |title=Congressional Quarterly Almanac, 96th Congress 1st Session....1979 |volume=35 |location=Washington, D.C. |publisher=Congressional Quarterly |pages=512–518 |issn=0095-6007 |oclc=1564784}}</ref> During 1978, he met with Kennedy over a compromise healthcare law that proved unsuccessful.{{sfn|Zelizer|2010|p=78}} He later said Kennedy's disagreements thwarted his plan to provide a comprehensive American health care system.<ref>{{cite book |first=Jimmy |last=Carter |author-link=Jimmy Carter |title=Keeping Faith: Memoirs of a President |publisher=Bantam Books |year=1982 |isbn=978-0-553-05023-3 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/keepingfaithmemo00cart/page/86 86–87] |url=https://archive.org/details/keepingfaithmemo00cart/page/86}}</ref>

In Gallup's 1990 retrospective ratings of U.S. presidents, Carter's presidency received a 45% favorability rating. Only Nixon and [[Lyndon B. Johnson]] had lower ratings.<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-post-standard-jfk-tops-presidents-l/156388619/ JFK Tops Presidents' List]. [[Gallup Organization]]. ''The Post-Standard''. December 5, 1990. Retrieved October 1, 2024.</ref> In a 2006 poll, Carter's presidency received a 61% favorability rating, its highest since 1979.<ref>Panagopoulos, Costas (December 29, 2006). [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-ford-won-the-publics/158133879/ Ford won the public's affection]. ''[[The Baltimore Sun]]''. Retrieved October 30, 2024.</ref> Although his presidency received a mixed reception, his [[peacekeeping]] and humanitarian efforts since he left office have made Carter renowned as one of the most successful ex-presidents in U.S. history.<ref name="Jimmy Carter's Post-Presidency" />{{sfn|Brinkley|1998|pp=505–530}}