Jimmy Carter's Mailaise Speech
The Presidency of Jimmy Carter was a rocky time economically in the United States. Interest rates climbed as high as 21% and the energy crisis of the day meant long lineups at the gas pumps. By July 15, 1979 (31 years ago today) Carter had already given four speeches to the nation on energy and he planned to give a fifth one, but he was afraid no one was listening to him any more. (He probably was right).
On July 15, 1979, Carter gave a nationally-televised address, speaking about what he called a "crisis of confidence" among the American people. This became known as his "malaise" speech. In the speech, he said:
"I want to talk to you right now about a fundamental threat to American democracy... I do not refer to the outward strength of America, a nation that is at peace tonight everywhere in the world, with unmatched economic power and military might. The threat is nearly invisible in ordinary ways. It is a crisis of confidence. It is a crisis that strikes at the very heart and soul and spirit of our national will. We can see this crisis in the growing doubt about the meaning of our own lives and in the loss of a unity of purpose for our nation... In a nation that was proud of hard work, strong families, close-knit communities, and our faith in God, too many of us now tend to worship self-indulgence and consumption. Human identity is no longer defined by what one does, but by what one owns. But we've discovered that owning things and consuming things does not satisfy our longing for meaning... I'm asking you for your good and for your nation's security to take no unnecessary trips, to use carpools or public transportation whenever you can, to park your car one extra day per week, to obey the speed limit, and to set your thermostats to save fuel... I have seen the strength of America in the inexhaustible resources of our people. In the days to come, let us renew that strength in the struggle for an energy-secure nation."
Three days after the speech, Carter asked for the resignations of all of his Cabinet officers, and ultimately accepting those of five who had clashed with the White House the most, including Energy Secretary James Schlesinger and Health, Education and Welfare Secretary Joseph Califano, known as a supporter of Senator Ted Kennedy. Carter broke a campaign promise that he would never appoint a Chief of Staff and appointed Hamilton Jordan, as a new White House Chief of Staff. Jordan circulated a "questionnaire" that read more like a loyalty oath.
Carter's Vice-President, Walter Mondale, later said "I think the idea was that they were going to firm up the administration, show that there was real change by these personnel changes, and move on. But the message the American people got was that we were falling apart."
Here is a video of part of the speech:
On July 15, 1979, Carter gave a nationally-televised address, speaking about what he called a "crisis of confidence" among the American people. This became known as his "malaise" speech. In the speech, he said:
"I want to talk to you right now about a fundamental threat to American democracy... I do not refer to the outward strength of America, a nation that is at peace tonight everywhere in the world, with unmatched economic power and military might. The threat is nearly invisible in ordinary ways. It is a crisis of confidence. It is a crisis that strikes at the very heart and soul and spirit of our national will. We can see this crisis in the growing doubt about the meaning of our own lives and in the loss of a unity of purpose for our nation... In a nation that was proud of hard work, strong families, close-knit communities, and our faith in God, too many of us now tend to worship self-indulgence and consumption. Human identity is no longer defined by what one does, but by what one owns. But we've discovered that owning things and consuming things does not satisfy our longing for meaning... I'm asking you for your good and for your nation's security to take no unnecessary trips, to use carpools or public transportation whenever you can, to park your car one extra day per week, to obey the speed limit, and to set your thermostats to save fuel... I have seen the strength of America in the inexhaustible resources of our people. In the days to come, let us renew that strength in the struggle for an energy-secure nation."
Three days after the speech, Carter asked for the resignations of all of his Cabinet officers, and ultimately accepting those of five who had clashed with the White House the most, including Energy Secretary James Schlesinger and Health, Education and Welfare Secretary Joseph Califano, known as a supporter of Senator Ted Kennedy. Carter broke a campaign promise that he would never appoint a Chief of Staff and appointed Hamilton Jordan, as a new White House Chief of Staff. Jordan circulated a "questionnaire" that read more like a loyalty oath.
Carter's Vice-President, Walter Mondale, later said "I think the idea was that they were going to firm up the administration, show that there was real change by these personnel changes, and move on. But the message the American people got was that we were falling apart."
Here is a video of part of the speech: