Carter ‘was not ready for office’

Press, 24 April 1979, Page 8

Carter ‘was not ready for office’

j NZPA-Reuter Washington j Jimmy Carter was unprepared for the job of President and has spent most of his time in office learning what it involves, according to an article by his former chief speechwriter. i The article, published in (the “Atlantic Monthly”! {magazine, said Mr Carter | lacked sophistication, was i unable to explain his goals, and did not project his ideas [beyond the one problem he Was tackling at any given time. | James Fallows. Mr Cariter’s chief speechwriter for I nearly two years until he resigned late 'last year, added: “He holds explicit, thorough ' positions on every issue ;under the sun. but he has no ! large view of the relations [between them.” Mr Fallows, now the “Atlantic” magazine’s Washington editor, called the President clever but not intellectual. “H grasps issues quickly,” he said. But he added: “Carter and those closest to him took office in profound ignorance of their jobs. . . Half of one term was wasted before Carter absorbed what I had once thought he knew on [the first day.” Mr Fallows said that des-

pite sweeping campaign promises, Mr Carter “did not really know what he wanted to do in such crucial areas as taxes, welfare, energy, and the reorganisation of government” when he took office. | Commenting on Mr Carper’s decision not to appoint 'a chief of staff as previous Presidents had done, the article added: “A year was wasted as we (senior aides) blindly groped for answers and did for ourselves what a staff co-ordinator could have done.” The article, first of a twopart series entitled “The Passionless Presidency,” called Mr Carter a good man: and praised his character. [ intelligence, integrity, and patience. But it said he became bored with domestic issues after his role in the Egyp-tian-Israeli peace treaty negotiations, seethed with frustration when his plans were rejected and could be extremely stubborn. Mr Fallows added that unless the President opened himself up to learn more from others and from history as well as personal ex- { nerience. the great notentiali he had shown in the cam-j paign and on taking office [ would not be fulfilled. I