President of the U.S., 1977-1981; Former Democratic Governor (GA)
Declined to keep "nuclear football" at home in Georgia
Carter refused to carry out the biggest responsibility a president has--to be available to take action in case of nuclear attack. When he went on vacation, "Carter did not want the nuclear football at Plains," a Secret Service agent says. "There was no
place to stay in Plains. The military wanted a trailer there. He didn't want that. So the military aide who carries the football had to stay in Americus," a 1minute drive from Carter's home.
Because of the agreed-upon protocols, in the event of a nuclear attack, Carter could not have launched a counterattack by calling the aide in Americus. By the time the military aide drove to Carter's home, the United
States would have been within five minutes of being wiped out by nuclear-tipped missiles. "He would have had to drive ten miles," an agent says. "Carter didn't want anyone bothering him on his property. He wanted his privacy. He was really different."
I, myself, served in the Navy from 1942 to 1953, and, as president, greatly strengthened our military forces and protected our nation and its interests in every way. I don’t believe this warrants your referring to me as a pacifist.
Questions of national defense were a continuing concern during the Carter term. He decided not to support the development of the B-1 bomber or the enhanced radiation “neutron bomb.” He did, however, approve the development of the cruise missile as a part
Source: Grolier’s Encyclopedia, “The Presidency”
, Dec 25, 2000
Opposed Vietnam, but very late
Carter is a moral, even a holy man, yet he is a politician trapped in the venal and compromising snake pit of America politics. That is part of his conflict. He has done things other liberal politicians and many human beings would be ashamed of.
He did not oppose the Vietnam war until almost the end. He proclaimed an “American Fighting Men’s Day” which was really a Lt. William Calley Day in Georgia.
Source: How Jimmy Won, by Kandy Stroud, p. 11-2
, Jan 1, 1997
Eliminate all nuclear weapons from this earth
We are a strong nation and we will maintain strength so sufficient that it need not be proven in combat--a quiet strength based not merely on the size of an arsenal not on the nobility of ideas.
The world is still engaged in a massive armaments race designed to insure continuing equivalent strength among potential adversaries.
We pledge perseverance and wisdom in our efforts to limit the world’s armaments to those necessary for each nation’s domestic safety.
We will move this year a step toward our ultimate goal--the elimination of all nuclear weapons from this earth.
We urge all other people to join us, for success can mean life instead of death.
Would pardon draft evaders outright to heal nation
Q: [to Ford]: In granting the pardon to former President Nixon, part of your rationale was to put Watergate behind us. Why does not the same rationale apply to the men who resisted in Vietnam, many of them in exile?
FORD: The amnesty program I recommended would give all draft evaders the opportunity to earn their good record back. We gave them ample time. I am against- an across-the-board pardon of draft evaders or military deserters.
CARTER: Pardon means that what you did, whether it's right or wrong, you're forgiven for it. I advocate a pardon for draft evaders. I think now is the time to heal our country after the
Vietnam War and I think that what the people are concerned about is not the pardon or the amnesty of those who evaded the draft, but whether or not our crime system is--is fair.
