Keeping The Faith by Jimmy Carter

Keeping Faith: Memoirs of a President by Jimmy Carter
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Jimmy Carter was the first President I have recollection of as a kid. My major recollections weren't detailed but I do remember the famous smile and big hair. I also remember the inflation, gas lines, Camp David peace talks, Ted Kennedy challenging him, Iran hostage situation and of course defeat to Reagan. All of is addressed in his memoirs in varying degrees. I've read books on Nixon, Ford, Reagan and even one about Kennedy/Carter but this is first from or about Carter alone.

The memoir generally runs chronologically taking guidance from the Presidents personal diary. It was interesting to hear about his perspective of events I remember as a kid. He's highly detailed but is still very thoughtful. Though book though was heavily into the details of his administration goings on but seemed like First Lady Rosalynn and daughter Amy were barely mention. In contrast the week at Camp David with Anwar Sadat(Egypt)of and Menachem Begin(Israel) trying to iron out peace accords feels like half the book. I'm sure some would find it interesting but it did seem it went on forever.

The last part of the book covers of the Iran hostage situation and his reelection bid. A little surprising is how underplayed his rivalry with Senator Ted Kennedy was. By most other accounts I've come across it was quite bitter. Perhaps even more so than against Reagan. I feel his reelection against Reagan was also underplayed. Not sure if it was just too bitter to talk about when he wrote this which was relatively soon after his Presidency.

I kind of felt like Jimmy Carter was great at being a heavily involved in the Presidency's day to day stuff but it did seem to lack a lot of warmth or humor. In other words, dry. He seemed to skip or skim over unpleasant stuff like Kennedy, malaise speech, Reagan etc... I like President Carter but I don't know if this does him justice. It's still worth reading if you're into Presidential history.



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