116. Editorial Note

President Jimmy Carter took part in an interview with editors and news directors, consisting of his introductory remarks and a question-and-answer session, at the White House on April 7, 1979. The session began at 1:16 p.m. in the Cabinet Room. In response to a question concerning the global perception of the administration’s human rights policy, the President commented:

“Well, there have been a number of occasions around the world where our human rights policy, which I espouse very strongly and think we ought to maintain, has been a diplomatic problem—in dealing with the People’s Republic of China, the Soviet Union, South Korea, Argentina, Chile, Brazil, the Philippines—just been described—and other countries. I could name a lot of them.

“Q. Afghanistan.

“The President. Afghanistan and others. I acknowledge that. I think, in balance, it’s one of the best things that we have ever done since I’ve been President. I think for us to raise the banner of being deeply committed to human rights has been and has had an enlightening effect on the rest of the world.

“Some of the administrations or the regimes in other nations have been embarrassed. But I can assure you—and I don’t think I’m saying this in a gloating way—that in previous administrations, quite often—even in very popular administrations—when visits were made to countries, say, in Latin America just to use an example, there have been, sometimes, massive anti-American demonstrations against very pop[Page 589]ular leaders, like Eisenhower or Truman or Nixon or Rockefeller and others.

“When we have visited those countries, the response has been overwhelmingly favorable and friendly among the people, even when I drove through the streets of Rio de Janeiro in the midst of an argument where human rights and nuclear power were raised.

“I think the people have responded well, even though the leaders in some countries have been somewhat embarrassed.

“I think it’s also reminded the American people about our own Nation’s principles. And sometimes the arguments with the totalitarian regime that has several thousands of people imprisoned without trial and without any charge, those arguments have made vivid in the minds of Americans that we are indeed better, or different—I think better—in our basic philosophy than those philosophies espoused in some other countries.

“There has been a substantial shift toward democratization in many of those nations, partially encouraged by our own standards on human rights. And there have been literally tens of thousands of political prisoners released from within those countries in the last year and a half or so because of our human rights position.

“The last point that I would like to make in this answer is that it’s raised the issue of human rights to a high degree of intensity. There are very few leaders in the world, in the 150 countries that now exist, who don’t every day or every week have to remind ourselves—including me—to what degree are we violating basic human rights? To what degree are we earning the condemnation of the rest of the world? To what degree are we arousing the animosity or distrust or displeasure or disappointment among our own people because we violate those rights?

“I’m very proud of what we have done. And I think in balance, this posture on human rights has helped us considerably.

“If you would go back 3 years or so and look at the attitude, for instance, in the General Assembly of the United Nations every fall when it convened, where our Nation was the butt of every joke and the target of every attack mounted by almost 100 nations on Earth, and compare it with the difference now, the last 2 years, part of that improvement is because we have espoused basic human rights.

“I think this is particularly true in Africa where black people now feel they’ve got a friend in the United States; they can depend on us.

“So, to answer your question, I think we’ve got the right policy, and I intend not only to maintain it but to elevate our commitment to that principle.” (Public Papers: Carter, 1979, Book I, pages 626–628)