One-term presidents don’t often have a large impact on policy matters. However, Jimmy Carter’s vision for peace in the Middle East and across the world still carries weight today as the US attempts to resolve the Israel-Palestine War that began with the Oct. 7 attacks in 2023.
Jimmy Carter’s influence was felt throughout his home state of Georgia when he died on Dec. 9, 2024. He is especially remembered for his decency and kindness, and those values translated to his commitment to peace. In an interview with the LBJ Foundation in 2011, he said the proudest accomplishment of his presidency was maintaining peace. “We never dropped a bomb, we never fired a bullet, we never lost a missile while I was president, and the main thing is we tried to bring that sort of relationship to other countries” he said.
President Jimmy Carter presided over the Camp David Accords, a peace treaty between Egypt and Israel in the aftermath of the 1973 Yom Kippur War. Jimmy Carter’s personal relationship and trust with both Anwar Sadat, Egypt’s president, and Menachem Begin, the Prime Minister of Israel, allowed him to be an impartial negotiator between the two countries. In 1978, Carter invited Sadat and Begin to Camp David, where they drafted an agreement that coordinated how Israel would withdraw from the Sinai Peninsula, which they had conquered from Egypt, in exchange for peace. Jimmy Carter’s Christian background created deep respect for Israel and its right to exist, and his prioritization of humanitarianism led to his “vocal support of Palestinian rights,” The Council on Foreign Relations reports. The Camp David Accords was an incredible step towards peace and ended the decades long state of war between Egypt and Israel. In the wake of Hamas and Israel’s agreement to a ceasefire in Gaza, Jimmy Carter’s vision for peace in the Middle East continues, and continued commitment in the US to the cause of peace is crucial.
Jimmy Carter also returned the Panama Canal to Panama while guaranteeing neutrality of all ships passing through. The Council on Foreign Relations wrote that “Carter hoped to undo perceptions that Washington injected itself into the affairs of these states for its own gain.” While there were worries that ceding control over the canal could prevent safe passage, the treaty improved the US’s relationship with Panama. Recently, President Donald Trump has asserted that he wants to retake the Panama Canal, but Carter’s treaty may prevent that, AP News reports.
Additionally, Carter’s presidency held surprising foresight when he recognized that China was becoming a major world power and he decided to normalize relations. Opening embassies, agreeing to acknowledge Taiwan as part of China and reengaging in contact led to greater communication and cooperation between the US and China. As China has recently only continued to grow its economic and political power, and so many global issues require coordination between superpowers, Carter’s bold decision to engage China created an important precedent towards cooperation.
Carter’s foreign policy actions were certainly not all successful. During the Iranian Revolution, 52 American citizens were taken hostage. Diplomatic talks to return them were growing unsuccessful, so Carter decided to order a military rescue. The rescue failed and became a blight on his presidential career, becoming one of the reasons he would lose to Ronald Reagan in the next election. However, Carter’s decency, faith and commitment to human rights is a valuable reminder of the importance of US involvement in foreign affairs. His legacy will be one of a president dedicated to ensuring the US plays a part in maintaining peace and has a positive impact on the world.
