From Publishers Weekly
It is astounding how little attention has been paid to Jimmy Carter's life?before, during and after his presidency?by publishers and biographers. University of Georgia sociologist Morris tries to fill the void with this thematic biography of a U.S. leader generally seen as a failure in office and a success as a statesman after defeat at the polls. Morris succeeds as an intellectual biographer but largely fails as the teller of a life story. He admires Carter as an above-board moralist during an age when such a persona could have been drowned by cynicism. But Morris is also convincing when he suggests that Carter's moralism didn't suit the country's needs during the last half of the 1970s. Morris is especially critical of Carter's failure to formulate and convey a platform for domestic policy reform. A president cannot, should not, try to govern with a foreign policy vision only, Morris asserts. While his decision to plumb the depths of Carter's moral lobe is a wise one, he could have done so while also giving more consideration to the events in Carter's life. That glossing of externalities often makes it difficult to understand Carter's moral judgments. Although Morris leaves the field open for a more thorough recounting of Carter's life before and during his presidency, his treatment of Carter at age 70 does offer satisfying insights.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.
--This text refers to the
Hardcover
edition.
From Library Journal
On the 20th anniversary of Jimmy Carter's election as America's 39th president, this is a timely volume that serves as a biography, cultural critique, and reevaluation. Morris (sociology, Univ. of Georgia) shows that Carter's primary interest has always been in personal morality, which operated to diminish his concern with formulating a domestic vision during his presidency. He simply expanded his emphasis on domestic civil rights to general human rights abroad. Moreover, his post-presidential career tends also to emphasize international concerns more than community needs at home. Except for militaristic rhetoric as a superficial substitute, Carter's successors have not been any more successful in finding a genuine domestic vision to unite Americans. Balanced, readable, and interesting, this book is recommended for all specialized presidential collections and larger public libraries.?William D. Pederson, Louisiana State Univ., Shreveport
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.
--This text refers to the
Hardcover
edition.
