'What the Heck Are You Up To, Mr. President?'

Jimmy Carter, America's 'Malaise,' and the Speech That Should Have Changed the Country

By Kevin Mattson

In 1979, in an effort to right our national malaise, Jimmy Carter delivered a speech that risked his reputation and the future of the Democratic Party, changing the course of American politics for the next twenty-five years.

At a critical moment in Jimmy Carter's presidency, he gave a speech that should have changed the country. Instead it led to his downfall and ushered in the rise of the conservative movement in America. In "What the Heck Are You Up To, Mr. President?" Kevin Mattson gives us a behind-the-scenes look at the weeks leading up to Carter's "malaise" speech, a period of great upheaval in the United States: the energy crisis had resulted in mile-long gas lines, inciting suburban riots and violence; the country's morale was low and Carter's ratings were even lower. The administration, wracked by its own crises, was in constant turmoil and conflict. What came of their great internal struggle, which Mattson conveys with the excitement of a political thriller, was a speech that deserves a place alongside L incoln's Gettysburg Address or FDR's First Inaugural. Prominent politicians on both sides of the aisle play important roles, including Carter, Vice President Walter Mondale, speechwriter Hendrik Hertzberg, Ronald Reagan, and Ted Kennedy. Like the best of narrative political writing, Mattson provides great insight into the workings of the Carter White House and the moral crisis that ushered in a new, conservative America.

Watch the speech: http://millercenter.org/scripps/archive/speeches/detail/3402

Watch/listen to the speech.

Reviews for 'What the Heck Are You Up To, Mr. President?'

Great New Yorker blog post from Hendrick Hertzberg. Read post.

“In his new book, “What the Heck Are You Up To, Mr. President?: Jimmy Carter, America’s ‘Malaise,’ and the Speech That Should Have Changed the Country,” Kevin Mattson, a professor of history at Ohio University, lays out the events of that summer like a big, rolling banquet… the historical ingredients are fascinating and first-rate…Mr. Mattson writes well about Mr. Carter’s staff and the intense jockeying that led up to the malaise speech.” —Dwight Garner, New York Times. Read full review.

“Exactly what political history ought to be – incisive, fast-paced, and fun to read.” —Matt Bai, New York Times Book Review.

Kevin was interviewed by Liane Hansen on NPR Weekend Edition Sunday. Listen to interview.

“Despite a brief bump in the president's approval ratings, the address became forever disparaged as the "malaise" speech, and it doomed Carter's reelection chances. That speech, history has concluded, was a huge mistake. Ohio University historian Kevin Mattson challenges that conclusion in his feisty new book…Chronicling the mood inside the White House and across the nation in the months surrounding the speech -- months when gas lines and Three Mile Island monopolized the news while "The Deer Hunter" and "disco sucks!" dominated the zeitgeist -- Mattson offers a radically different reading [of the speech]…” —Carlos Lozada, Washington Post. Read full review.

"Excellent...Mattson's faith in the significance of popular culture is both refreshing and right on the mark. It’s about time someone found Blondie as important as Barbara Tuchman...those of us who were around back in the day will be ruefully reminded of those bygone times. And those who weren’t will be scratching their heads in disbelief at this fascinating and frequently improbable history."—Frank Gannon, Wall Street Journal. Read full review.

"In many ways, none of them subtle, Mattson's slim, tightly packed narrative is as much a study of burgeoning media power as presidential oratory."— Los Angeles Times. Read full review.

Q&A with Kevin Mattson that ran in the Atlanta Journal Constitution. Review Q&A.

Author Kevin Mattson wrote a brilliant Op-Ed piece which was picked up by the following papers:

“Jimmy Carter’s ‘Crisis of Confidence’ Speech Still Matters,” [TX] The Monitor, 7/10/09; “Environmental Lesson From Jimmy Carter,” [SC] Sun News, 7/10/09 "Lessons on Sacrifice in Carter’s Crisis,” San Jose Mercury News, 7/11/09 “Carter’s Speech Matters Today,” [ND] Grand Forks Herald, 7/12/09 “Speech Resonates Years Later,” Atlanta Journal Constitution, 7/12/09 “How Carter’s Crisis of Confidence Speech Still Matters,” [FL] Brandenton Herald, 7/12/09 “Crisis of Confidence Speech Still Matters,” Tallahassee Democrat, 7/12/09 “Jimmy Carter’s Crisis of Confidence Speech Still Matters,” Charleston Gazette, 7/12/09 “Carter’s Crisis Speech Still Matters,” [SC] The Herald, 7/13/09; We could use a little Malaise,” [MN] Star Tribune, 7/14/09 “Revisit Carter’s Energy Speech,” [NY] Times Union, 7/14/09 “Carter’s Advice Resonates Today,”[CO] Daily Camera, 7/13/09 “Carter’s Crisis of Confidence Speech Still Matters Today, [CAN] Owen Sound Sun Times, 7/15/09 “Citizen Sacrifice is needed more than ever to Solve Problems,” [WA] Bellingham Herald, 7/15/09 “Energy Malaise Persists,” Florida Times-Union, 7/15/09.

“Mattson, a professor of contemporary history, reveals the behind-the-scenes machinations at the White House that led to the unprecedented summit Carter held at Camp David with ordinary citizens and leaders… Mattson makes a cogent argument that the speech’s words represented “some of the best that Carter offered the nation.” —Booklist

“Mattson makes Carter’s maligned speech a touchstone for a rich retrospective and backhanded appreciation of the soul-searching ’70s.” —Publishers Weekly

“Mattson fully renders the motley array of Carter’s “Georgia Mafia,” along with countless details of this turbulent era in American history. A galloping history full of interesting characters and significant moments.” —Kirkus Reviews

Review from The American Prospect, Go!

“This book becomes a page-turner for those interested in the decadent disco decade, Jimmy Carter himself, and the modern presidency.” —Library Journal