In 1977, during the Carter administration, the musical group Kansas released the timeless classic entitled “Dust in the Wind,” with the stark declaration of “Now, don’t hang on. Nothin’ lasts forever but the earth and sky.”
An international icon passed away on Sunday. Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter died at age 100 at his home in Plains, Georgia, after nearly two years in hospice care. At his death, Jimmy Carter was the oldest surviving former president, having surpassed George H. W. Bush, who died at age 94 in 2019.
President Carter influenced many realms — ranging from international diplomacy to billion-dollar corporations — and the world shall assuredly remember and celebrate his legacy in the coming days. Per the nearly 900 pages of Stuart E. Eizenstat’s book President Carter: The White House Years, Carter was possibly the most underrated president of all-time, which was reinforced earlier this year in the 2024 Presidential Greatness Project.
With respect to the auto industry, President Carter had a tremendous, positive effect that’s worth remembering since, like any influential figure throughout history, he helped to start the momentum of improvements that continue forward for generations. Let’s examine at least two major shifts that began during his presidency: a greener strategy and functional safety.
A Greener Strategy
There are unfortunately few “all time” lists that put the Carter administration at the top — in part because Jimmy Carter is known more for what he did after the White House than from within it — but one such list rightfully notes Carter as the “Greenest President of All Time.” Carter realized and even verbalized during his infamous address nicknamed the “Malaise Speech” (a.k.a Crisis in Confidence speech) that “We can’t go on consuming 40 percent more energy than we produce. When we import oil we are also importing inflation plus unemployment.”
Why? Maybe first and foremost, Carter established the Department of Energy as well as a national energy policy that included conservation, price control, and new technology. For the first time, there was a national discussion about 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 helped us win World War II, so will we mobilize American determination and ability to win the energy war. Moreover, I will soon submit legislation to Congress calling for the creation of this Nation’s first solar bank, which will help us achieve the crucial goal of 20 percent of our energy coming from solar power by the year 2000,” Carter said. (Note: Actuals as of February 2023 was 21.5% coming from all renewable energy including solar power at 3.4%.)
Along those lines, Carter helped to revive and strengthen both the flailing Environmental Protection Agency and National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration. The EPA had been established 11 years before the CERCLA or Superfund Act, but it had not been granted sufficient authority until Carter helped provide the agency with a much larger budget and the right to enforce rules and clean-ups. In the Environmental Message to Congress in May of 1977, Carter submitted, “Emission limitations for automobiles which help meet clean air goals but allow achievement of strict fuel economy standards [and] state implementation of inspection and maintenance programs in seriously polluted areas to ensure that automobiles continue to meet emission control requirements while in use.”
For NHTSA, the Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards were a shamefully low 18 miles per gallon (18 mph) in 1978. At the tail end of Carter’s administration, NHTSA advanced a notice for fuel efficiency standards to reach 48 mpg by 1995. Opponents to these regulations over the years like Bob Lutz have argued that CAFE standards are like “fighting obesity by telling clothing manufacturers they can produce only small sizes,” but comparing the actual CAFE performance to standards shows this early wisdom has driven the national strategy on fuel economy. Such mandates continue to be the most likely reason technologies like battery-electric vehicles, hybrids and alternative fuels may eventually become mainstream.
“We have the most skilled work force, with innovative genius, and I firmly believe that we have the national will to win this war,” Carter said of the energy crisis.
Functional Safety
Carter recognized the importance of functional safety and helped to sustain and embolden organizations to protect the consumer.
In 1972, during the Nixon administration, the Consumer Product Safety Commission was created in order to protect “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 nearly half century of overwatch, deaths and injuries from product safety have declined.
Jimmy Carter recognized the need for product safety and signed a bill in 1978 that provided the continued authorization of the CPSC. “The Consumer Product Safety Commission has had a troubled five-year history,” stated 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 do an effective, responsible job.”
Those only peripherally-familiar with the laws of the United States would argue that the CPSC has no jurisdiction over roadway vehicles, especially after NHTSA’s 2005 clarification of its jurisdiction. However, many micro-mobility vehicles with a maximum speed under 20 miles per hour appear to fall into CPSC’s jurisdiction regardless of if they are used on a roadway or not. Several major automotive manufacturers and suppliers produce such micro-mobility products.
Regardless of exact jurisdictions, decades after Carter’s revival of the CPSC there are over 50,000 database entries when searching for “cars” – which typically are products used inside a vehicle such as car seats – but the overlapping protection and instilled philosophy of functional safety cannot be ignored.
A Word of Advice
No matter your nationality or age, it is worth reading President Carter’s Crisis of Confidence speech in full. Although some believe the address factored into his defeat to Reagan the following year, many of the words ring true today. “In closing, let me say this: I will do my best, but I will not do it alone.” It was a cry to unite.
Maybe we should reinvigorate that sentiment in honor of his passing.
