Compare and contrast the domestic policies of Ford and Carter.

The question requires that candidates give an account of the similarities and differences between Ford and Carter in terms of their domestic policies, referring to both throughout. There does not need to be an equal number of each. For comparison candidates may refer to the efforts of both to restore trust in government (Ford following Watergate and Carter following Vietnam), their loss of public support due to controversial pardons (Ford of Nixon and Carter of Vietnam draft resisters), the dominance of energy issues and their difficult relations with Congress. For contrast, candidates may address Ford’s limited legislative initiatives and the impact of “stagflation” (low growth and high inflation) with Carter’s relative success in initiatives such as the creation of the Superfund to clean toxic environmental sites, de-regulation of the transportation industry and legislation for energy independence. Candidates’ opinions or conclusions will be presented clearly and supported by appropriate evidence.

The question required that candidates give an account of the similarities and differences between Ford and Carter in terms of their domestic policies.