DOCSLIB.ORG

Carter's Job Ratings Indicate He Has Made No Progress in Restoring the Public's Confidence in Him

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Carter's Job Ratings Indicate He Has Made No Progress in Restoring the Public's Confidence in Him - - ' ABC News - Harris Survey * For Release: Tuesday AM, October 23, 1979 Vol. I No. 131 ISSN 0163-4846 CARTER'S JOB RATINGS INDICATE HE HAS MADE NO PROGRESS IN RESTORING THE PUBLIC'S CONFIDENCE IN HIM By Louis Harris President Carter's job rating has dropped to 74-25 percent negative, which equals his all-time low in a previous ABC News - Harris Survey in late July. In fact, since May, the overall Carter rating has ranged between 25 and 29 percent positive, and the President has been unable to make any appreciable progress in restoring public confidence in his performance in office. Public reaction to his ability to "inspire confidence in the White House" keeps dropping to new lows: --In the latest ABC News - Harris Survey, taken among a cross section of 1,500 adults nationwide earlier this month, only 17 percent give President Carter positive marks on this key personal dimension of inspiring confidence, while a record high 79 percent give him a negative rating. Last month, he was rated 76-20 percent negative on this dimension, while the month before his rating was 71-23 percent negative. A year ago, the same test of inspiring confidence found the President with a better rating of 55-38 percent negative. Past ABC News - Harris Surveys have indicated that when a president's personal confidence rating runs below his overall job performance standing, then it is a precursor to even lower ratings for him in the future. Thus, it is entirely conceivable that Jimmy Carter's downward slide in the polls has not yet seen a bottoming out, let alone the improvement he needs if he is to be a viable presidential candidate in L 1980. On just about every specific aspect of the President's activity, he has slipped in public confidence: --In the pivotal area of handling the domestic economy, Carter comes up with 84-14 percent negative marks, tying his all-time low recorded in late July. Closely related is his 86-12 percent negative rating on his efforts to curb the rising rate of inflation. --On his handling of relations with Congress, which is a key factor in getting his legislative program enacted, Americans give Carter no better than 80-16 percent negative marks, scarcely changed since July. --On his new energy program, his rating is now 69-22 percent negative, a decline from his 61-27 percent negative score in September. --On foreign policy as a whole, the President achieves marks of 63-33 percent negative. Last April, after the signing of the peace treaty between Egypt and Israel, he was rated 56-41 percent positive on foreign policy matters. --However, on his working for peace in the Middle East, the Carter rating remains 58-39 percent positive, no change since last month, although it is well below his 78-18 percent positive standing after the Sadat-Begin agreement in 1978. The President's Middle East efforts have yielded his best scores by far. --By contrast, in his handling of relations with Russia, the President comes up with a 71-22 percent negative rating, his lowest ever on this dimension. Americans also rate the President 60-33 percent negative on his working for a SALT I1 arms limitation agreement with the Russians. This is a marked deterioration from the narrow 44-43 percent negative rating he received after signing the SALT I1 treaty in Vienna last June. --In the political area, the initial public response to the way Carter is - handling the challenge by Senator Edward Kennedy is 61-30 percent negative. --Finally, on the general question of "getting things done," President Carter is given 80-18 percent negative marks by Americans, down from a comparable 78-20 percent negative standing in late July. Americans have become dubious about Jimmy Carter's capacity to really get things done, and nothing to date has led them to change their minds. TABLES Between September 26th and October lst, the ABC News - Harris asked a cross section of 1,500 adults nationwide by telephone: "How would you rate the job President Carter is doing as President--excellent, pretty good, only fair or poor?" CARTER OVERALL JOB RATING *Positive Negative Not sure % % % October 1979 25 74 1 September 2 8 70 2 Late July 25 74 1 Mid-July 29 7 0 1 June 25 7 3 2 "Now let me ask you about some specific things President Carter has done. How would you rate him on (READ LIST)--excellent, pretty good, only fair or poor?" CARTER RATINGS ON SPECIFICS *Positive Negative Not sure % % a Working for a peace settlement in the Middle East October 1979 September 1979 September 1978 His working for a SALT I1 arms agreement with the Russians to limit nuclear arms October 1979 September 1979 Late July 1979 June 1979 His handling of foreign policy matters October 1979 September 1979 Late July 1979 April 1979 September 1978 His handling of the challenge by Senator Kennedy for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1980 October 1979 His new energy program October 1979 September 1979 TABLE CONTINUED CARTER RATINGS ON SPECIFICS CONT'D. *Positive Negative Not sure % % % His handling of relations with the Russians October 1979 June 1979 December 1978 Getting things done October 1979 Late July 1979 Inspiring confidence in the White House October 1979 September 1979 Late July 1979 September 1978 His handling of relations with Congress October 1979 September 1979 Late July 1979 September 1978 His handling of the economy October 1979 September 1979 Late July 1979 September 1978 His handling of inflation October 1979 September 1979 September 1978 *Positive=excellent and pretty good Negative=only fair and poor Louis Harris and Associates, Inc. subscribes to the principles of disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls. The principles are that all reports of survey findings of member organizations, prepared specifically for public release, will include reference to the following: sponsorship of the survey; dates of interviewing; method of obtaining the interviews; population that was sampled; size of the sample; size and description of the sub-sample, if the survey report relies primarily on less than the total sample; complete wording of questions upon which the release is based; and, the percentages upon which conclusions are based. All of this information is provided in this release. (c) 1979 The Chicago Tribune World Rights Reserved - Chicago Tribune-N.Y. News Syndicate, Inc. 220 East 42nd Street, New York, NY 10017 .
Load more

Recommended publications
  • What Have We Learned Since October 1979?
    Panel Discussion I Moderation.” Recessions have become less fre- What Have We Learned Since quent and milder, and quarter-to-quarter volatility October 1979? in output and employment has declined signifi- cantly as well. The sources of the Great Moderation Ben S. Bernanke remain somewhat controversial, but, as I have argued elsewhere, there is evidence for the view he question asked of this panel is, that improved control of inflation has contributed “What have we learned since October in important measure to this welcome change in 1979?” The evidence suggests that we the economy (Bernanke, 2004). Paul Volcker and have learned quite a bit. Most notably, his colleagues on the Federal Open Market Com- Tmonetary policymakers, political leaders, and mittee deserve enormous credit both for recogniz- the public have been persuaded by two decades ing the crucial importance of achieving low and of experience that low and stable inflation has stable inflation and for the courage and persever- very substantial economic benefits. ance with which they tackled America’s critical This consensus marks a considerable change inflation problem. from the views held by many economists at the I could say much more about Volcker’s time that Paul Volcker became Fed Chairman. In achievement and its lasting benefits, but I am sure 1979, most economists would have agreed that, that many other speakers will cover that ground. in principle, low inflation promotes economic Instead, in my remaining time, I will focus on growth and efficiency in the long run. However, some lessons that economists have drawn from many also believed that, in the range of inflation the Volcker regime regarding the importance of rates typically experienced by industrial countries, credibility in central banking and how that credi- the benefits of low inflation are probably small— bility can be obtained.
    [Show full text]
  • The 22 September 1979 Vela Incident—Part II: Radionu- Clide and Hydroacoustic Evidence for a Nuclear Explosion”
    SCIENCE & GLOBAL SECURITY ,VOL.,NO.,– https://doi.org/./.. The September Vela Incident: The Detected Double-Flash Christopher M. Wrighta and Lars-Erik De Geer b aUNSW Canberra, School of Physical, Environmental and Mathematical Sciences, Research Group on Science & Security, The Australian Defence Force Academy, Canberra BC, Australia; b(Retired) FOI, Swedish Defense Research Agency, and the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organisation, Flädervägen , Upplands Väsby, Sweden ABSTRACT ARTICLE HISTORY On 22 September 1979 two optical sensors on U.S. satellite Vela Received March 6911 detected a double-flash of light that appeared characteristic Accepted October of an atmospheric nuclear explosion conducted over the south- ern Atlantic or Indian Ocean. It became known as the Vela Inci- dent, Event 747, or Alert 747. An anomaly between the amplitude of the two signals during the second pulse led a U.S. govern- ment expert panel established to assess the event to conclude in mid-1980 that a more likely explanation was the impact of a small meteoroid on the satellite, the debris from which reflected sunlight into the sensors’ field of view. No model was presented to support the contention, and a similar anomaly—known as background modulation—was a given for the second pulse of all confirmed explosions detected by Vela, though beginning later. Nonetheless, this event has remained the subject of intense debate. This article reviews the evidence and presents an updated analysis of the original Vela signal based on recently declassi- fied literature and on modern knowledge of interplanetary dust and hyper velocity impact. Given the geometry of the satellite, and that the bulk of the surface comprised solar panels, much of the debris from any collision would be carried away from the sensors’ field of view.
    [Show full text]
  • SEPTEMBER, 1979 W Ill We Let Mr
    IBLICATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL WOMEN PILOTS ASSOCIATION SEPTEMBER, 1979 W ill We Let Mr. Bond Kill Aviation?? By Louise Sacchi Until now aviation has always been a areas of the aviation community. monies that Mr. Bond wants for the fragmented industry--airline pilots, The Pilots’ Lobby is composed principally implementation of the NPRM. The Senate corporate pilots, charter pilots, owner of Henry Pflanz who is an ATR. FAA has already thrown this appropriation out of pilots, agricultural pilots, sports pilots, Examiner with 10,000 hrs. He left his their version. There is also HR 3480 which military pilots, air traffic controllers -each position as staff aide to the House Aviation says that the FAA may not change the has seen their needs from a different Subcommittee of the Public Works and criteria for any positive control airspace prospective. Transportation Committee to start it from what it was in 1973. Mr. I.anghorne Bond and his N PRM 78- because he felt so strongly about the However, we must not underestimate Mr. 19 has changed all that. Now. all segments of situation. The other chief member is Allan Bond! He has had “informal" meetings held the aviation community have joined Landolt. a former Navy pilot who holds around the country to tell us what his new together in opposition. All pilots of Commercial & Instrument with 3,500 hrs. TCAs and TRSAs will be like, and on July whatever group and the controllers agree Allan was head of the Illinois Dept. 20 promulgated another NPRM 79-SO-36 that this multiplication of positive Aeronautics for some years and more for the new and vastly expanded TCA at controlled airspace is extremely hazardous recently the Administrator for General Atlanta.
    [Show full text]
  • WHCA Video Log
    WHCA Video Log Tape # Date Title Format Duration Network C1 9/23/1976 Carter/Ford Debate #1 (Tape 1) In Philadelphia, Domestic Issues BetaSP, DigiBeta, VHS 90 ABC C2 9/23/1976 Carter/Ford Debate #1 (Tape 2) In Philadelphia, Domestic Issues BetaSP, DigiBeta, VHS 30 ABC C3 10/6/1976 Carter/Ford Debate #2 In San Francisco, Foreign Policy BetaSP, DigiBeta, VHS 90 ABC C4 10/15/1976 Mondale/Dole Debate BetaSP, DigiBeta, VHS 90 NBC C5 10/17/1976 Face the Nation with Walter Mondale BetaSP, DigiBeta, VHS 30 CBS C6 10/22/1976 Carter/Ford Debate #3 At William & Mary, not complete BetaSP, DigiBeta, VHS 90 NBC C7 11/1/1976 Carter Election Special BetaSP, DigiBeta, VHS 30 ABC C8 11/3/1976 Composite tape of Carter/Mondale activities 11/2-11/3/1976 BetaSP, DigiBeta, VHS 30 CBS C9 11/4/1976 Carter Press Conference BetaSP, DigiBeta, VHS 30 ALL C10 11/7/1976 Ski Scene with Walter Mondale BetaSP, DigiBeta, VHS 30 WMAL C11 11/7/1976 Agronsky at Large with Mondale & Dole BetaSP, DigiBeta, VHS 30 WETA C12 11/29/1976 CBS Special with Cronkite & Carter BetaSP, DigiBeta, VHS 30 CBS C13 12/3/1976 Carter Press Conference BetaSP, DigiBeta, VHS 60 ALL C14 12/13/1976 Mike Douglas Show with Lillian and Amy Carter BetaSP, DigiBeta, VHS 60 CBS C15 12/14/1976 Carter Press Conference BetaSP, DigiBeta, VHS 60 ALL C16 12/14/1976 Barbara Walters Special with Peters/Streisand and Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter BetaSP, DigiBeta, VHS 60 ABC Page 1 of 92 Tape # Date Title Format Duration Network C17 12/16/1976 Carter Press Conference BetaSP, DigiBeta, VHS 30 ABC C18 12/21/1976 Carter Press Conference BetaSP, DigiBeta, VHS 30 ALL C19 12/23/1976 Carter Press Conference BetaSP, DigiBeta, VHS 30 ABC C20 12/29/1976 Good Morning America with Carter and Cabinet Members (Tape 1) BetaSP, DigiBeta, VHS 60 ABC C21 12/29/1976 Good Morning America with Carter and Cabinet Members (Tape 2) Digital Files, Umatic 60 ABC C22 1/4/1977 Dinah Shore Show with Mrs.
    [Show full text]
  • Country Term # of Terms Total Years on the Council Presidencies # Of
    Country Term # of Total Presidencies # of terms years on Presidencies the Council Elected Members Algeria 3 6 4 2004 - 2005 December 2004 1 1988 - 1989 May 1988, August 1989 2 1968 - 1969 July 1968 1 Angola 2 4 2 2015 – 2016 March 2016 1 2003 - 2004 November 2003 1 Argentina 9 18 15 2013 - 2014 August 2013, October 2014 2 2005 - 2006 January 2005, March 2006 2 1999 - 2000 February 2000 1 1994 - 1995 January 1995 1 1987 - 1988 March 1987, June 1988 2 1971 - 1972 March 1971, July 1972 2 1966 - 1967 January 1967 1 1959 - 1960 May 1959, April 1960 2 1948 - 1949 November 1948, November 1949 2 Australia 5 10 10 2013 - 2014 September 2013, November 2014 2 1985 - 1986 November 1985 1 1973 - 1974 October 1973, December 1974 2 1956 - 1957 June 1956, June 1957 2 1946 - 1947 February 1946, January 1947, December 1947 3 Austria 3 6 4 2009 - 2010 November 2009 1 1991 - 1992 March 1991, May 1992 2 1973 - 1974 November 1973 1 Azerbaijan 1 2 2 2012 - 2013 May 2012, October 2013 2 Bahrain 1 2 1 1998 - 1999 December 1998 1 Bangladesh 2 4 3 2000 - 2001 March 2000, June 2001 2 Country Term # of Total Presidencies # of terms years on Presidencies the Council 1979 - 1980 October 1979 1 Belarus1 1 2 1 1974 - 1975 January 1975 1 Belgium 5 10 11 2007 - 2008 June 2007, August 2008 2 1991 - 1992 April 1991, June 1992 2 1971 - 1972 April 1971, August 1972 2 1955 - 1956 July 1955, July 1956 2 1947 - 1948 February 1947, January 1948, December 1948 3 Benin 2 4 3 2004 - 2005 February 2005 1 1976 - 1977 March 1976, May 1977 2 Bolivia 3 6 7 2017 - 2018 June 2017, October
    [Show full text]
  • Oceanographic Data Transmitted from the Flemish Cap Area September 1979 to December 1980
    NOT TO BE CITED WITHOUT PRIOR REFERENCE TO THE AUTHOR(S) Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization Serial No. N372 NAFO SCR Doc. 81/VI/83 SCIENTIFIC COUNCIL MEETING - JUNE 1981 Oceano ra•hic Data Transmitted from the Flemish Ca• Area September 1979 to December 1980 by J. R. Keeley Marine Environmental Service Department of Fisheries and Oceans 240 Sparks Street 2 Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0E6 (MEDS Data Record No. 2 Appended) OCEANOGRAPHIC DATA TRANSMITTED FROM THE FLEMISH CAP AREA SEPTEMBER 1979 TO DECEMBER 1980 IR. Keeley DATA RECORD NO: 2 ,.... -14 C.......,ana- a 1981 f MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL DATA SERVICE DATA RECORD NO. 2 Oceanographic Data Transmitted from the Flemish Cap Area September 1979 to December 1980 J.R. Keeley DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES AND OCEANS OTTAWA, CANADA () Crown Copyrights Reserved Requests for copies should be sent to: The Marine Environmental Data Services, Marine Sciences Information Directorate, Ocean Science and Surveys, Department of Fisheries and Oceans, 240 Sparks Street, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0E6 MEDS8100501 CE CONTENTS Page Introduction 1 ,Procedures • • • • .... • • • 1 Reference. • • • 2 Figures.• • • • • • • • • . • • • • .3• • • Microfiche • • • • • • • • • . Back Cover 111 1 INTRODUCTION This is the second report listing the messages received by the Marine Environmental Data Services Branch (MEDS) from ships in the area of the Flemish Cap. The first (Gagnon 1980) described the international discuss- ions which took place and led up to the agreement to transmit oceanographic data by radio to shore stations. The report also detailed the procedures used to code the data and the routing of the data through the Global Telecommunications System (GTS) to MEDS. Finally, it presented the cruise tracks of the ships and the messages as received up to the end of August 1979.
    [Show full text]
  • September 1979 8
    If you have issues viewing or accessing this file contact us at NCJRS.gov. The American Prison: The End of an Era ............ Benjamin Frank Writing Standards for Correctional Acermiitation ........ Ernest G. Reimer t c Dale K. Sechrest Strengthening Families as Natural Support Systems for Offenders ............... , ~n Hoffman Fishman Albert S. Alissi The Fine 0pti0n Program: An Alternative to Prison for Fine Defaulters ....... .... Margery Heath The Case for Creative Restitution in Corrections , . , • James 1t. Bridges John T. Gandy James D. Jorgensen An Evaluation of Federal Community Treatment Centers .... • James L. Beck Education and Training of Probation Olfleers: A Critical Asses,mue~t .......... , . ~ Chris W. Eskridge ~ersion of Juveaile Offemlers: An Amblffuoms 8tato Art .................... ~qtanley Vanagunas Probation: A Skills Course wing Techniques in Probation and Parole: ,ial Interview (Part 1) ............... Henry L. Hartman rg SEPTEMBER 1979 8 ADMINISTRATION Administrative Office of the Department of Justice United States Courts WILr.IAM E. FOLEY BENJAMIN R. CIVILETTI Director Attorney General JOSEPH F. SPANIOL, JR. CHARLES RUFF Deputy Director Aeti~g Dep~ty Attorney General WAYNE P. JACKSON NORMAN A. CARLSON Chief of Probation Director, B~reau of Prisons EDITORIAL STAFF DONALD I,. CHAMLEE Assi.~tant Chief of Probation Editor WILLIAM A. MAIO, JR. MILLIE A. RABY Managing Editor Editorial Secretary ADVISORY COMMITTEE RICHARD A. CHAPPELL, Former Chairman, U.S. Board of LLOYD E. OHLIN, PH.D., Professor of Criminology, Har- Parole, and Former Chief, Federal Probation System vard University Law School ALVIN W. ColiN, D.CI~IM., President, Administration of MILTON G. RECTOR, Director, National Co~tncil on Crime Justice Services, Inc., Rockville, Md.
    [Show full text]
  • Explaining the Conflict in Central African Republic: Causes and Dynamics
    View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by Epiphany - Journal of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences... EXPLAINING THE CONFLICT IN CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: CAUSES AND DYNAMICS Abdurrahim Sıradağ King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Saudi Arabia Abstract Since the Central African Republic (CAR) gained independence from France in 1960 it has faced deep social, economic and political crises. The country has witnessed 10 military coup attempts between 2005 and 2015, which have aggravated political and economic development of the CAR. The most recent by leader of the Seleka coalition group, Michel Djotodia, against the government of Bozize in March 2013 that saw hundreds of thousands displaced and thousands killed. Although the violence in the CAR partially polarized Muslims and Christians, we argue in this paper that the driver of the conflict in the CAR is DOI:10.21533/epiphany.v9i2.246 more a struggle for power among political elite. The aim is to explain the main motivations behind the political crisis and the changing dynamics of the violent conflict in the CAR. Keywords: Central African Republic; Africa; France; Seleka; Anti- balaka; Religion; Security; Conflict. Introduction Since the Central African Republic (CAR) gained independence from its former colonial power in 1960 it has failed to establish state institutions capable of providing social, economic or political services to its citizenry. International Crisis Group (2007) in its report defined CAR as a “phantom state” due to the absence of state security forces and the collapse of the state institutions. According to BBC News after François Bozize came to power through a military coup in March 2003, the CAR Bush War (2004-2007) in the north-east of the country broke out between the rebel forces under the leadership of Michel Djotodia and the government, ending with the signing of the Birao Peace Agreement between the Union of Democratic Forces for Unity (UFDR) and the government on 13 April 2007 (Relief Web International Report).
    [Show full text]
  • September 1979 Volume 5, Number 9 Tribution Limitations and the Public Financing of Presidential Elections
    THE FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION 1325 K Street N.W., Washington, D.C. 20463 September 1979 Volume 5, Number 9 tribution limitations and the public financing of Presidential elections. Finally, the Chairman sug­ LEGISlATION gested changes to eliminate cumbersome pro­ cedures and reduce delays in administration of the law. One of the recommended changes, for example, FEC TESTIFIES ON would allow any person subject to the provisions of AMENDMENTS TO ACT the Act to have standing to request an advisory Testifying before the Senate Rules committee on opinion. July 13, 1979, FEC Chairman Robert 0 . Tiernan, ac­ companied by Vice Chairman Max L. Friedersdorf, The Chairman concluded by stating that the proposed recommended several revisions to the Federal Election revisions are designed to make the Act more effective Campaign Act (the Act). Since 1975, the Commission and less burdensome on those required to comply with has made annual recommendations for legislative revi­ it. (The FEC Annual Report 1978 contains a complete sions to the Act, which was last amended in 1976. In his discussion of previous legislative recommendations.) testimony, Chairman Tiernan reiterated Commission support of the previous recommendations and em­ phasized three areas of particular concern: COMMISSIONERS 1. Simplification The Commission recommended that reporting re­ NEW COMMISSIONER quirements be simplified to the greatest extent possi­ On July 31, 1979, Frank P. Reiche of Princeton, New ble. The FEC's recommendations would reduce the Jersey, was sworn into office as an FEC Commissioner number of required reports by up to 60 percent per by Supreme Court Justice William R. Rehnquist. The election cycle, substantially alleviating the burden on ceremony took place at the FEC.
    [Show full text]
  • Anglo-Vatican Relations, the Nuncio Question and Irish Concerns, 1938-82 Daithí Ó Corráin
    1 The pope’s man in London: Anglo-Vatican relations, the nuncio question and Irish concerns, 1938-82 Daithí Ó Corráin School of History and Geography, St Patrick’s Campus, Dublin City University, Drumcondra, Dublin 9, Republic of Ireland. Email: [email protected] Please note: The finalised version of this article has been published on Cambridge Core in British Catholic History, Volume 35 / Issue 1 (2020) and is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/bch.2020.3. Below is an earlier version I am grateful to the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at Dublin City University (DCU) for funding research in The National Archives, London for this article. 2 Although a British mission to the Holy See was established in 1914, the diplomatic relationship was not on a basis of reciprocity. From 1938 the pope was represented in London not by a nuncio (the Vatican equivalent of an ambassador) but by an apostolic delegate whose mission was to the hierarchy alone and not the British government. The evolution of the nuncio question sheds light on the nature of Anglo-Vatican relations, the place of Catholicism in British public life, inter-church rapprochement and British foreign policy considerations. This article assesses the divergent positions of the Foreign and Home Offices. The former was sympathetic to a change of status, whereas the latter was cautious due to the opposition of the archbishop of Canterbury and concerns about anti-Catholicism. The nuncio question was also of great interest to the Irish government. It feared that a nuncio in London would exert jurisdiction over Northern Ireland and undermine the all-island unity of the Irish Catholic Church.
    [Show full text]
  • The Reform of October 1979: How It Happened and Why
    Centennial Issue The Reform of October 1979: How It Happened and Why David E. Lindsey, Athanasios Orphanides, and Robert H. Rasche This study offers a historical review of the monetary policy reform of October 6, 1979, and discusses the influences behind it and its significance. We lay out the record from the start of 1979 through the spring of 1980, relying almost exclusively on contemporaneous sources, including the recently released transcripts of Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meetings during 1979. We then present and discuss in detail the reasons for the FOMC’s adoption of the reform and the communications challenge presented to the Committee during this period. Further, we examine whether the essential characteris tics of the reform were consistent with monetarism; new, neo, or old-fashioned Keynesianism; nominal income targeting; and inflation targeting. The record suggests that the reform was adopted when the FOMC became convinced that its earlier gradualist strategy using finely tuned interest rate moves had proved inadequate for fighting inflation and reversing inflation expectations. The new plan had to break dramatically with established practice, allow for the possibility of substantial increases in short-term interest rates yet be politically acceptable, and convince financial market participants that it would be effective. The new operating procedures were also adopted for the pragmatic reason that they would likely succeed. This article first appeared in the March/April 2005 issue of Review . Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis Review , November/December 2013, 95 (6), pp. 487-541. Do we have the wit and the wisdom to restore an environment of price stability without impair - ing economic stability? Should we fail, I fear the distortions and uncertainty generated by infla - tion itself will greatly extend and exaggerate the sense of malaise and caution...Should we succeed, I believe the stage will have been set for a new long period of prosperity.
    [Show full text]
  • The 22 September 1979 Vela Incident
    SCIENCE & GLOBAL SECURITY , VOL. , NO. , – https://doi.org/./.. The September Vela Incident: Radionuclide and Hydroacoustic Evidence for a Nuclear Explosion Lars-Erik De Geer a and Christopher M. Wrightb aRetired, Swedish Defence Research Agency, Stockholm, Sweden and The Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization, Vienna, Austria; bUNSW Canberra, School of Physical, Environmental and Mathematical Sciences, Research Group on Science & Security, The Australian Defence Force Academy, Canberra BC, Australia ABSTRACT ARTICLE HISTORY This article offers a new analysis of radionuclide and hydroacous- tic data to support a low-yield nuclear weapon test as a plausi- ble explanation for the still contentious 22 September 1979 Vela Incident, in which U.S. satellite Vela 6911 detected an optical sig- nal characteristic of an atmospheric nuclear explosion over the Southern Indian or Atlantic Ocean. Based on documents not pre- viously widely available, as well as recently declassified papers and letters, this article concludes that iodine-131 found in the thy- roids of some Australian sheep would be consistent with them having grazed in the path of a potential radioactive fallout plume from a 22 September low-yield nuclear test in the Southern Indian Ocean. Further, several declassified letters and reports which describe aspects of still classified hydroacoustic reports and data favor the test scenario. The radionuclide and hydroacoustic data taken together with the analysis of the double-flash optical sig- nal picked up by Vela 6911 that was described in a companion 2017 article (“The 22 September 1979 Vela Incident: The Detected Double-Flash”) can be traced back to sources with similar spatial and temporal origins and serve as a strong indicator for a nuclear explosion being responsible for the 22 September 1979 Vela Incident.
    [Show full text]