In his speeches, President Jimmy Carter (1924-; see entry in volume 5) often invoked ideals of American democracy as guides to explaining his policies. He had difficulty during his presidency, however, in translating those principles into action. He succeeded in restoring faith and trust in the presidency —as reflected in consistently high ratings in polls for his trustworthiness. However, his effectiveness as a leader rated much lower in opinion polls. He was unable to rally support in Congress or among voters for many of his programs.

Carter applied to American foreign policy his belief that political actions should reflect the nation's highest moral ideals. That standard emphasized human rights—that all individuals should be free and equal. His most profound statement of that belief occurred at a commencement (graduation) address at the University of Notre...