While America is over 240 years old, there have only been 45 men who could honestly call themselves President of the United States. It's a tough job, and one that will be scrutinized for the rest of history. However, there are few 21st century presidents as overlooked as Jimmy Carter: whose one term in office was seen as unexceptional compared to any president from a post-FDR world. It could be that his demeanor didn't rely on flamboyance or controversy. Instead, it relied on a can do spirit, and a desire to do what was morally right. In his book "White House Diary," he explores his time in office through personal memos that detail the literal day-to-day, often in detail, and gives a better sense not only of his achievements, but of his personal struggles and regrets while in office. It may not be the most exciting read, but it has plenty to offer in understanding Carter as president.
The conceit for the book came from a brief meeting with Richard Nixon while Carter was governor. Nixon asked Carter to record everything he did. While this seems ironic in light of Watergate, it fueled one of the most prolific chroniclers of presidential activity. With help of his staff, he compiled the book and released it in 2010. While the book was edited, Carter claims that it wasn't given too much annexing over details that made him look bad (the only thing edited was still sensitive information). It is an account that does get a little redundant, especially for a president who was known to enjoy the simpler things in life. Many entries can be summarized as being either peaceful trips to Camp David, preaching at church, or ventilating his personal frustration with various politicians.
It's the redundancy that may make "White House Diary" authentic, but it undermines his big achievements. When he was called to action, Carter could passionately defend his actions. There would be whole entries with intimate details regarding his peace talks, energy crises, and even the 1980 election. While he occasionally showed an ego, he was a humble president whose rationality could be seen in how he discussed deciding on his various plans. While he starts the diary on a confident and ambitious note, he ends with an acknowledgment that he had some weak spots. He was proud of what he did, but Carter has the integrity to notice that some of his decisions could have endured with further thought.
This is a book that mostly historians or people interested in Carter's legacy will enjoy. As a man who openly discussed his faith and desired honesty, it only helps to build any integrity that his legacy deserves. He may have not had the most exciting presidency, but his diligence to recording his accomplishments is of worthwhile merit unto itself. It's a candid experience, and one that isn't often provided for presidents of any stature - let alone one who openly admitted that his last year in office was full of disaster. In a way, his final year paints a fascinating portrait of a president in crisis, wishing to achieve his goals but knowing that sometimes that's difficult. By the end Carter sounds like a great president who stuck by his morals. He may have not been the best in some people's eyes (which is why Ronald Reagan won in 1980), but at least Carter showed how dignified he could be, even with one of the most powerful jobs in the world.
Overall Rating: 3.5 out of 5
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