A Government as Good as Its People [Paperback]

Jimmy Carter (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 1996

A Government as Good as Its People presents sixty-two of the best and most notable public statements made by Jimmy Carter on his way to becoming president of the United States. Carter's public pronouncements address all the major concerns of our time and collectively stand as a testament to his deeply held conviction that we still can, and must have "a government as good as its people."

Editorial Reviews

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.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: University of Arkansas Press (May 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1557283982
• ISBN-13: 978-1557283986
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,455,240 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Jimmy Carter was born in Plains, Georgia, and served as thirty-ninth President of the United States. He and his wife, Rosalynn, founded The Carter Center, a nonprofit organization that prevents and resolves conflicts, enhances freedom and democracy, and improves health around the world. He is the author of numerous books, including Palestine Peace Not Apartheid, An Hour Before Daylight and Our Endangered Values. He received a "Best Spoken Word" Grammy Award for his recording of Our Endangered Values. All of President Carter's proceeds from this series will go to the Maranatha Baptist Church of Plains, Georgia.