Jimmy Carter’s presidency: A time of 'malaise' that led to the election of Ronald Reagan

Numerous setbacks, both domestic and international, contributed to President Jimmy Carter's 1980 defeat.

As Carter struggled to cope with multiple domestic and international crises, the then-president went on national television in July 1979 to deliver what was titled "the crisis confidence" address, but was later dubbed the "malaise" speech, even though the world malaise never appeared in Carter’s actual address.

Carter called for Americans to return to a sense of civic duty that would unify the country through a call for shared sacrifice for the common good of the nation. While initially giving the president a boost in the polls, the goodwill was short-lived. A couple of days after the address, Carter fired several members of his cabinet and was unable going forward to be seen as a strong and effective leader.