This volume collects the key speeches of President Jimmy Carter (James Earl Carter Jr.), America's 39th president during his term of office from 1977-1981. Speeches include Carter's multiple speeches related to inflation and the energy crisis, speeches on diplomatic relations with China, Afghanistan, the Iran Rescue Mission, and the Panama Canal treaty signing. His three State of the Union addresses are also included together with his inaugural address and farewell speech. This offers a deep insight into Carter's presidency in his own words, and also provides an overview of certain issues facing both America and the world in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

Carter is remembered for pardoning Vietnam draft evaders during his second day in office. He established two new departments - the Department of Energy and the Department of Education. Internationally, he pursued the Camp David Accords, Panama Canal Treaties, and Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT). However, his term of office was dominated by rising domestic inflation prompted in part by rising energy prices. He was president during the later stages of the Cold War and his term saw the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and the Iranian Hostage Crisis. Interestingly, he is the only president to serve a full term of office that has not appointed a Supreme Court justice.

Carter was a member of the Democratic Party and won the 1976 general election narrowly defeated Republican candidate and presidential incumbent, Gerald Ford. In 1980, Carter faced a primary challenge from Senator Ted Kennedy, which he overcame, though he ultimately lost the 1980 general election to Ronald Reagan in a landslide. This collection of speeches provides a useful perspective on Carter's presidency during a critical time for America and the world.