However, inflation and interest rates were at near-record highs, and his handling of the Iran Hostage Crisis saw his popularity plunge.
Harvey Georges/AP
Carter claimed an increase of nearly 8 million jobs during his term and a decrease in the budget deficit. However, despite his gains, Carter’s leadership came under scrutiny as Americans continued to struggle with high inflation and unemployment rates, the White House reported.
The Iran Hostage Crisis also marred his presidency. On November 4, 1979, Iranian militants stormed the United States Embassy in Tehran and took 66 Americans captive.
Thirteen of the captives were released on November 19 and 20, 1979, one was released on July 11, 1980, and the remaining 52 were released on January 20, 1981, over a year after they were initially captured, per the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library.
Eight American servicemen and one Iranian civilian were killed during a failed secret mission, spearheaded by Carter in April 1980, to rescue the hostages.
“As our team was withdrawing, after my order to do so, two of our American aircraft collided on the ground following a refueling operation in a remote desert location in Iran,” Carter said in a statement at the time.
“There was no fighting; there was no combat. But to my deep regret, eight of the crewmen of the two aircraft which collided were killed, and several other Americans were hurt in the accident,” Carter continued. “Our people were immediately airlifted from Iran. Those who were injured have gotten medical treatment, and all of them are expected to recover.”
All of the hostages were eventually returned safely home, but many criticized Carter’s lack of military retaliation after the incident, the failed 1980 mission, and the resulting loss of life. Secretary of State Cyrus Vance, who had opposed the mission, resigned in protest after the incident.
