Biden ~ Carter

If you're like me, you've read a lot of post-election analysis, think-pieces, and hot takes. But one comparison I haven't seen that is particularly relevant in this moment of national mourning is that of Joe Biden and Jimmy Carter. I don't actually know that much about Carter, so my analysis is not going to be very long or detailed or perhaps even that accurate. But I am on a presidential biography kick, so maybe I'll post an update to this post once I've read up some more. For now, here is my very own sizzling post-Biden administration take.

Biden and Carter both rode into office on the heels of turbulent decades and corrupt previous administrations, promising stability, moderation, honesty, and compassion. And although both achieved certain goals-- Biden reinvigorated industrial capacity, Carter created robust energy policy-- their administrations were generally seen as failures to address many of the crises they were handed.

Inflation dragged both administrations down. But they also bumbled international crises with Iran, the USSR / Russia, and Afghanistan. Their China policies were more successful, though in opposite directions: Carter opened up China to trade, while Biden intensified Trump's efforts to stymie China's ascendance. But despite these foreign policy successes, they were succeeded by fiery and charismatic right-wing Republicans who successfully portrayed their administrations as ineffectual.

Of course, Carter was a 50-something whippersnapper during his term, while Biden is an octogenerian relic of a bygone age. Furthermore, Biden's final year was tainted by a cover-up of his cognitive decline and his reason-defying attempt at reelection, while Carter was beset by external difficulties like the Iran hostage crisis and the primary challenge from Ted Kennedy. Carter front-loaded his career with the presidency, and kept on working for almost half a century afterwards, while Biden did the inverse. And while Carter succeeded in his negotiations with Israel, Biden failed to resolve the crisis in Gaza despite numerous attempts to do so. He also poorly dealt with an immigration crisis the likes of which Carter never had to confront.

Despite these tangible differences, the tragic resonance between the two men is that they were succeeded by conservatives who vowed to undo not just the damage they did, but even the good things they accomplished. That's at least what Donald Trump is going about right now. And how well he accomplishes that will determine the kind of wreckage we will be salvaging for decades to come, long after he and Biden have gone the way of Mr. Carter.