On July 15, 1979, Carter delivered his infamous “Malaise” speech, in which he lamented the “Crisis of Confidence” that he perceived to be plaguing the United States populace. He felt that Americans were too reliant on the government to resolve the gas shortage, and thus he tried to convince them to take steps themselves to fix the issue. Midway through the address, Carter said, “I'm asking you for your good and for your nation's security to take no unnecessary trips, to use carpools or public transportation whenever you can…” (Carter). While this speech was successful at first, boosting his approval rating by about 5% in the following days, the lasting implication was dreadful. Many felt that Carter’s words were condescending—instead of proposing federal solutions to the economic and energy problems afflicting the country, Carter chose to blame the public (“Carter’s…”). This ill-timed speech, which many historians describe as having a “boomerang” effect, further alienated potential voters, and created a new crisis of confidence, only this time in regards to Carter’s
On July 15, 1979, Carter delivered his infamous “Malaise” speech, in which he lamented the “Crisis of Confidence” that he perceived to be plaguing the United States populace. He felt that Americans were too reliant on the government to resolve the gas shortage, and thus he tried to convince them to take steps themselves to fix the issue. Midway through the address, Carter said, “I'm asking you for your good and for your nation's security to take no unnecessary trips, to use carpools or public transportation whenever you can…” (Carter). While this speech was successful at first, boosting his approval rating by about 5% in the following days, the lasting implication was dreadful. Many felt that Carter’s words were condescending—instead of proposing federal solutions to the economic and energy problems afflicting the country, Carter chose to blame the public (“Carter’s…”). This ill-timed speech, which many historians describe as having a “boomerang” effect, further alienated potential voters, and created a new crisis of confidence, only this time in regards to Carter’s