A lot of it had to do with the Iran hostage crisis (1979-81). There was a failed rescue attempt by US military in 1980 that cost the lives of 8 servicement (chopper crash) that really put the nail in the coffin for Carter.
The final death knell was the October surprise theory (supported by “several individuals—most notably, former Iranian President Abulhassan Banisadr, former Lieutenant Governor of Texas Ben Barnes, former naval intelligence officer and U.S. National Security Council member Gary Sick, and Barbara Honegger, a former campaign staffer and White House analyst for Reagan and his successor, George H. W. Bush—have stood by the allegation.” source). While the theory does have its detractors it has a lot of support by those in the know.
I was around back then and remember watching Carter almost wither away under the onslaught from Reagan and the Moral Majority.
You didn’t actually explain what the October Surprise Theory was. According to your link:
The 1980 October Surprise theory refers to an allegation that representatives of Ronald Reagan’s presidential campaign made a secret deal with Iranian leaders to delay the release of American hostages until after the election between Reagan and President Jimmy Carter, the incumbent.
The 1980 October Surprise theory refers to an allegation that representatives of Ronald Reagan’s presidential campaign made a secret deal with Iranian leaders to delay the release of American hostages until after the election between Reagan and President Jimmy Carter, the incumbent. The detention of 66 Americans in Iran, held hostage since November 4, 1979, was one of the leading national issues during 1980, and the alleged goal of the deal was to thwart Carter from pulling off an “October surprise”. Reagan won the election, and on the day of his inauguration—minutes after he concluded his 20-minute inaugural address—the Islamic Republic of Iran announced the release of the hostages.
There was also both the energy crisis itself and the “Crisis of Confidence” speech during the middle of the energy crisis, which people saw as Carter just ignoring the energy crisis.
Really, a lot of things went wrong. The biggest, though, was that Carter just refused to kiss Tip O’Neill’s ring and it meant he had both parties working against him.
A lot of it had to do with the Iran hostage crisis (1979-81). There was a failed rescue attempt by US military in 1980 that cost the lives of 8 servicement (chopper crash) that really put the nail in the coffin for Carter.
The final death knell was the October surprise theory (supported by “several individuals—most notably, former Iranian President Abulhassan Banisadr, former Lieutenant Governor of Texas Ben Barnes, former naval intelligence officer and U.S. National Security Council member Gary Sick, and Barbara Honegger, a former campaign staffer and White House analyst for Reagan and his successor, George H. W. Bush—have stood by the allegation.” source). While the theory does have its detractors it has a lot of support by those in the know.
I was around back then and remember watching Carter almost wither away under the onslaught from Reagan and the Moral Majority.
You didn’t actually explain what the October Surprise Theory was. According to your link:
Whoops. Sorry about that.
1980 October Surprise
There was also both the energy crisis itself and the “Crisis of Confidence” speech during the middle of the energy crisis, which people saw as Carter just ignoring the energy crisis.
Really, a lot of things went wrong. The biggest, though, was that Carter just refused to kiss Tip O’Neill’s ring and it meant he had both parties working against him.