The Demise of an Icon: Jimmy Carter's Impact on the Automotive Sector
In 1977, during the Carter administration, the musical group Kansas released a timeless classic entitled “Dust in the Wind,” with the blunt statement of “Now, don't hold on. Nothing perpetuates forever except for the earth and sky.”
A globally recognized figure passed away on Sunday. Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter passed away at the age of 100 at his home in Plains, Georgia, after almost two years of hospice care. At his passing, Jimmy Carter was the oldest surviving former president, surpassing George H. W. Bush, who passed away at the age of 94 in 2019.
Jimmy Carter left an indelible mark on various spheres, from international diplomacy to multibillion-dollar corporations. The world will undoubtedly commemorate and pay tribute to his legacy in the forthcoming days. According to the nearly 900 pages of Stuart E. Eizenstat's book President Carter: The White House Years, Carter was arguably the most overlooked president of all time, as further emphasized earlier this year in the 2024 Presidential Greatness Project.
Regarding the automobile industry, President Carter had a significant, positive influence that's worth recognizing, as any influential figure throughout history helped spark the momentum of improvements that reverberate across generations. Let's scrutinize at least two major transitions that originated under his presidency: a eco-friendly approach and functional safety.
An Eco-Friendly Approach
Fortunately, there aren't numerous “all-time” lists that place the Carter administration at the pinnacle — primarily because Jimmy Carter is more renowned for his post-White House endeavors than his accomplishments within it — but one such list deservedly cites Carter as the “Greenest President of All Time.” Carter acknowledged and even articulated during his infamous speech dubbed the “Malaise Speech” (or "Crisis in Confidence speech") that "We can't continue consuming 40 percent more energy than we produce. When we import oil, we simultaneously import inflation and unemployment."
Perhaps first and foremost, Carter established the Department of Energy as well as a national energy policy that included energy conservation, price control, and new technology. For the first time, the nation engaged in a discourse on alternative fuels and energy. At his inauguration in 1977, the reviewing stand was heated by approximately 1,000 square meters of solar thermal panels.
“Just as a similar synthetic rubber corporation aided us in winning World War II, so will we mobilize American determination and ability to triumph in the energy war. Moreover, I will soon present legislation to Congress that calls for the establishment of this Nation's first solar bank, which will help us achieve the vital goal of 20 percent of our energy coming from solar power by the year 2000,” Carter said. (Note: As of February 2023, 21.5% of energy came from all renewable sources, including solar power at 3.4%.)
In accordance with this, Carter assisted in resuscitating and strengthening both the faltering Environmental Protection Agency and National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration. The EPA had been in existence for 11 years prior to the CERCLA or Superfund Act, but it had not been granted sufficient authority until Carter aided the agency by providing it with a more substantial budget and the authority to enforce rules and implement clean-ups. In May of 1977, Carter's Environmental Message to Congress stated, “Emission limitations for automobiles that facilitate meeting clean air objectives, while allowing the achievement of strict fuel economy standards [and] the implementation of vehicle emission inspections and maintenance programs in severely polluted areas to ensure that automobiles continue to comply with emission control requirements while in use.”
For NHTSA, the Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards were a disgracefully low 18 miles per gallon (18 mph) in 1978. Towards the end of Carter's administration, NHTSA issued a preliminary notice of proposed rulemaking for fuel efficiency standards to reach 48 mpg by 1995. Opponents of these regulations throughout the years, such as Bob Lutz, have argued that CAFE standards are akin to "fighting obesity by dictating that clothing manufacturers can produce only small sizes," but comparing the actual CAFE performance to standards shows that this early wisdom has driven the national strategy on fuel economy. Such mandates continue to be the primary reason that technologies like battery-electric vehicles, hybrids, and alternative fuels may eventually become mainstream.
“We boast the most skilled workforce, with innovative ingenuity, and I firmly believe that we have the national will to triumph in this energy crisis,” Carter said of the energy crisis.
Functional Safety
Carter recognized the significance of functional safety and continued to bolster organizations devised to safeguard consumers.
In 1972, during the Nixon administration, the Consumer Product Safety Commission was instituted in order to safeguard "the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death associated with the use of the thousands of types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $1 trillion annually." During its more than half-century watch, deaths and injuries from product safety have decreased.
Jimmy Carter understood the necessity of product safety and signed a bill in 1978 that provided the continued authorization of the CPSC. “The Consumer Product Safety Commission has encountered a troubled five-year history,” declared Carter during the signing, “but it has a crucial mission: to protect Americans' health and safety. In considering this legislation, the administration and Congress reviewed the problems faced by this agency and … it now has the opportunity to perform an effective, responsible job.”
Individuals who aren't well-versed in U.S. laws might argue that the CPSC has no control over road vehicles, especially following NHTSA's 2005 clarification of its authority. However, it seems that micro-mobility vehicles, capable of reaching speeds below 20 mph, may fall under the CPSC's jurisdiction, regardless of whether they're used on roads or not. Leading automotive manufacturers and suppliers are also producing these micro-mobility gadgets.
Despite the precise territories, decades after Carter revived the CPSC, a search for "cars" in their database yields over 50,000 entries. While these items are usually meant for automotive use, like car seats, the shared focus on safety standards and functionality cannot be overlooked.
A Suggestion
Regardless of your country or age, take some time to read President Carter's "Crisis of Confidence" speech entirely. Some believe that this speech contributed to his loss against Reagan the following year, but many of its messages still resonate today. "In closing, let me say this: I will do my best, but I will not do it alone." It was a call for unity.
Perhaps it's time to rekindle this spirit in honor of his passing.
- During his presidency, Jimmy Carter advocated for a national energy policy that prioritized energy conservation and the exploration of alternative fuels, aiming to reduce the United States' reliance on fossil fuels.
- In addition to his energy policy, President Carter also focused on environmental issues and strengthened the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) by providing it with a larger budget and more enforcement authority.
- Jimmy Carter is often recognized as the "Greenest President of All Time" due to his efforts to promote a greener, more sustainable future for the United States, including the establishment of the Department of Energy and the push for more fuel-efficient vehicles.
- Beyond his environmental initiatives, Carter also emphasized the importance of functional safety in consumer products, signing legislation that continued the authorization of the Consumer Product Safety Commission to protect Americans from harm.
