In 1979, Jimmy Carter delivered his “Crisis of Confidence” speech, a tirade against American individualism and consumerism. Historian Kevin Mattson says the speech helps make sense of Carter the president, Carter the American, and even the state of the US today.

This episode was produced by Jillian Weinberger, edited by Matt Collette and Miranda Kennedy, fact-checked by Serena Solin and Laura Bullard, engineered by Paul Robert Mounsey and Rob Byers, and hosted by Sean Rameswaram.

Transcript at vox.com/today-explained-podcast

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President Jimmy Carter about to address the nation from the White House on his energy proposals. Photo credit: Bettmann/Getty Images.

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