--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Frankly, neither president [Gerald Ford…" description: "\"Frankly, neither president [Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter] was an inspiring figure; so, maybe their lack of inspiration by the founders shouldn't surpri..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/375/paul-kengor-14302_carter_frankly-neither-president-gerald-ford-an_1454500.jpg" --- # Frankly, neither president \[Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter\]… ![“Frankly, neither president [Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter] was an inspiring figure; so, maybe their lack of inspiration by the founders shouldn't surprise us.” quote by Paul Kengor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/375/paul-kengor-14302_carter_frankly-neither-president-gerald-ford-an_1454500.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/375/paul-kengor-14302_carter_frankly-neither-president-gerald-ford-an_1454500.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/375/paul-kengor-14302_carter_frankly-neither-president-gerald-ford-an_1454500.jpg) > “Frankly, neither president \[Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter\] was an inspiring figure; so, maybe their lack of inspiration by the founders shouldn't surprise us.” [Paul Kengor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kengor/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Both Ford and Carter lacked the charismatic inspiration of founding leaders, suggesting that modern leaders may not need to mirror historic figures to be effective. **In simple terms:** Ford and Carter were not inspiring like the founders. Key Takeaway Recognize diverse leadership styles. Themes leadership history inspiration politics Mood analytical critical Type political philosophical When to use this quote - political campaigns - historical analysis - leadership training - public speaking - media coverage Key Concepts comparative politics leadership theory public perception Questions to Reflect On - What qualities make a leader effective today? - Can a leader succeed without charisma? A Different Perspective Inspirational leadership is not the sole path to effectiveness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Founders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/founders/) [Gerald ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gerald-ford/) [Inspiration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspiration/) [President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president/) [Surprise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surprise/) ## Related quotes > [ \[Gerald\] Ford and \[Jimmy\] Carter, in fact, were huge disappointments to me. Think about this: They were the presidents around the time of America's… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kengor/gerald-ford-and-jimmy-carter-in-fact-were-huge-disappointments-to-me/) [Paul Kengor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kengor/) > [ The presidents varied in the degree to which they cited the founders. Some, like JFK, LBJ, \[Richard\] Nixon, and \[Bill\] Clinton, cited them somewhat… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kengor/the-presidents-varied-in-the-degree-to-which-they-cited-the-founders/) [Paul Kengor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kengor/) > [I met Gerald Ford. I met Richard Nixon. I met Jimmy Carter. I met Dwight Eisenhower when he was a general. George Bush senior.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-rose/i-met-gerald-ford-i-met-richard-nixon-i-met-jimmy-carter-i-met-dwight/) [Pete Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-rose/) > [Future historians will be able to study at the Jimmy Carter Library, the Gerald Ford Library, the Ronald Reagan Library, and the Bill Clinton…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/future-historians-will-be-able-to-study-at-the-jimmy-carter-library/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [In the last 100 years only Presidents George H.W. Bush, Jimmy Carter and Gerald Ford lost their bids for reelection. President Lyndon Johnson did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-williams/in-the-last-100-years-only-presidents-george-h-w-bush-jimmy-carter/) [Juan Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-williams/) > [Petra Kelly is my inspiration, one of the founders of the German Greens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-lucas/petra-kelly-is-my-inspiration-one-of-the-founders-of-the-german-greens/) [Caroline Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-lucas/) > [Co-founders shouldn't excel in the same areas - it's inefficient and will inevitably lead to conflicts down the road.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-hartz/co-founders-shouldn-t-excel-in-the-same-areas-it-s-inefficient-and/) [Julia Hartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-hartz/) > [ I was disappointed in how \[Bill\] Clinton, like \[Jimmy\] Carter, used the founders to argue for huge expansions in federal power, clearly beyond what… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kengor/i-was-disappointed-in-how-bill-clinton-like-jimmy-carter-used-the/) [Paul Kengor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kengor/) > [ When \[Jimmy\] Carter did quote them, he quoted them in what I believe were misapplications, such as arguing for the creation of a federal… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kengor/when-jimmy-carter-did-quote-them-he-quoted-them-in-what-i-believe/) [Paul Kengor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kengor/) > [I'm looking for a president that'll be like a Ronald Reagan to a Jimmy Carter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudy-giuliani/i-m-looking-for-a-president-that-ll-be-like-a-ronald-reagan-to-a/) [Rudy Giuliani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudy-giuliani/) > [I only remember a few things about Jimmy Carter. He had big lips and liked peanuts. I now know that Jimmy Carter was and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-cobain/i-only-remember-a-few-things-about-jimmy-carter-he-had-big-lips-and/) [Kurt Cobain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-cobain/) > [Look at what Jimmy Carter did. Look at the risks he took for a country that wasn't his. Israel has benefited unbelievably from that.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-wright/look-at-what-jimmy-carter-did-look-at-the-risks-he-took-for-a-country/) [Lawrence Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-wright/) > [No doubt the ridiculous politicians are right to like politics. They have found careers in which success can be achieved by being ridiculous. Imagine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/no-doubt-the-ridiculous-politicians-are-right-to-like-politics-they/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [ Here's a foolproof method for keeping America safe. Always do the exact 180-degree opposite of whatever \[Jimmy\] Carter says, as quickly as possible. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-coulter/here-s-a-foolproof-method-for-keeping-america-safe-always-do-the/) [Ann Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-coulter/) > [I am somewhat influenced by the years that I've spent trying to actually get things done, whether it was reforming education in Arkansas or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-am-somewhat-influenced-by-the-years-that-i-ve-spent-trying-to/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) ## More by Paul Kengor > [The American founding is not just about a group of people, a group of men. It is about an ideal: Both a vision and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kengor/the-american-founding-is-not-just-about-a-group-of-people-a-group-of/) [Paul Kengor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kengor/) > [Maybe the most interesting find in my research is that it is clear that Ronald Reagan, among all modern presidents, plainly rediscovered the founders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kengor/maybe-the-most-interesting-find-in-my-research-is-that-it-is-clear/) [Paul Kengor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kengor/) > [“Only when people are free to worship, create, and build, only when they can decide their destiny and benefit from their own risks—only then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kengor/only-when-people-are-free-to-worship-create-and-build-only-when-they/) [Paul Kengor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kengor/) > [As has been reported, and is unmistakably evident to all but the most naïve, federal employees have been ordered to exploit this crisis, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kengor/as-has-been-reported-and-is-unmistakably-evident-to-all-but-the-most/) [Paul Kengor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kengor/) > [ It is quite sad, to me, that that ideal, that vision and understanding \[of American founding \], doesn't seem to be a part of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kengor/it-is-quite-sad-to-me-that-that-ideal-that-vision-and-understanding/) [Paul Kengor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kengor/) > [ The presidents varied in the degree to which they cited the founders. Some, like JFK, LBJ, \[Richard\] Nixon, and \[Bill\] Clinton, cited them somewhat… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kengor/the-presidents-varied-in-the-degree-to-which-they-cited-the-founders/) [Paul Kengor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kengor/) > [ I was a child or didn't live through those presidents prior to \[Ronald\] Reagan, and thus didn't realize how little attention they had paid… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kengor/i-was-a-child-or-didn-t-live-through-those-presidents-prior-to-ronald/) [Paul Kengor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kengor/) > [In the middle of Hillary Clinton's push for national healthcare in 1993, Bill Clinton cited Thomas Jefferson's concern for health issues as, somehow, apparently…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kengor/in-the-middle-of-hillary-clinton-s-push-for-national-healthcare-in/) [Paul Kengor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kengor/) > [ If our presidents, or potential presidents, don't know this or don't articulate \[an America ideal\], that's a blown opportunity. The president can teach as… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kengor/if-our-presidents-or-potential-presidents-don-t-know-this-or-don-t/) [Paul Kengor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kengor/) > [“Only in the detached from reality world of goofy Hollywood and modern academia could a mass murderer like Che Guevara be turned into something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kengor/only-in-the-detached-from-reality-world-of-goofy-hollywood-and-modern/) [Paul Kengor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kengor/) > [Throughout American history our presidents have invoked our nation's founding fathers. This is particularly true of recent presidents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kengor/throughout-american-history-our-presidents-have-invoked-our-nation-s/) [Paul Kengor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kengor/) > [ Which founders have these presidents cited - and why? What did, say, President \[Ronald\] Reagan's view of George Washington, or President \[Bill\] Clinton's view… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kengor/which-founders-have-these-presidents-cited-and-why-what-did-say/) [Paul Kengor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kengor/) > [Learning is a good thing, but unless it's tempered by faith and a love of freedom, it can be very dangerous indeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kengor/learning-is-a-good-thing-but-unless-it-s-tempered-by-faith-and-a-love/) [Paul Kengor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kengor/) > [“Ultimately, Reagan presided over the largest tax cut in American history, and accomplished it working in tandem with (rather than against) a huge Democratic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kengor/ultimately-reagan-presided-over-the-largest-tax-cut-in-american/) [Paul Kengor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kengor/) > [ Ronald Reagan \[ cite the founders\] on behalf of emphasizing the faith of our founders, of limited government, of the uniqueness and exceptionalism of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kengor/ronald-reagan-cite-the-founders-on-behalf-of-emphasizing-the-faith-of/) [Paul Kengor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kengor/) [Explore all 47 Paul Kengor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kengor/) ## More Carter quotes > [I am somewhat influenced by the years that I've spent trying to actually get things done, whether it was reforming education in Arkansas or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-am-somewhat-influenced-by-the-years-that-i-ve-spent-trying-to/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [Benny Carter came up to me and said to me, "You know, in the whole history of the alto, I think Phil is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-gordon/benny-carter-came-up-to-me-and-said-to-me-you-know-in-the-whole/) [Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-gordon/) > [Trying to make it from the bottom. His sins Feeling as hard as Vince Carter's knee cartilage is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-sweatshirt/trying-to-make-it-from-the-bottom-his-sins-feeling-as-hard-as-vince/) [Earl Sweatshirt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-sweatshirt/) > [ \[A\]n Obama presidency would be an amusing approximation of the Carter administration, complete with vaporous moralizing and foreign policy bungling. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmett-tyrrell/a-n-obama-presidency-would-be-an-amusing-approximation-of-the-carter/) [Emmett Tyrrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmett-tyrrell/) > [When I worked in the White House for President Carter, we tried to do comprehensive tax reform and we made some progress, and other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-rubenstein/when-i-worked-in-the-white-house-for-president-carter-we-tried-to-do/) [David Rubenstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-rubenstein/) > [They know where Carter at, straight off the launchin pad marching on the moon muthafuka I've been to Mars and back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-wayne/they-know-where-carter-at-straight-off-the-launchin-pad-marching-on/) [Lil Wayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-wayne/) > [ I've kept the people who've been in my career who I feel are my family. Kathy \[Kennedy\] had been with me since 1978. Janusz… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/i-ve-kept-the-people-who-ve-been-in-my-career-who-i-feel-are-my/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [ Here's a foolproof method for keeping America safe. Always do the exact 180-degree opposite of whatever \[Jimmy\] Carter says, as quickly as possible. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-coulter/here-s-a-foolproof-method-for-keeping-america-safe-always-do-the/) [Ann Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-coulter/) > [“Time crawls in the silence. Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock. Tock. Tock. Tock.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-mckay/time-crawls-in-the-silence-tick-tock-tick-tock-tick-tock-tock-tock/) [Emily McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-mckay/) > [No doubt the ridiculous politicians are right to like politics. They have found careers in which success can be achieved by being ridiculous. Imagine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/no-doubt-the-ridiculous-politicians-are-right-to-like-politics-they/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Over the weekend, former Enron executives Jeffrey Skilling and Rebecca Carter married each other during a huge ceremony in Houston. The happy couple is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/over-the-weekend-former-enron-executives-jeffrey-skilling-and-rebecca/) [Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/) > [Look at what Jimmy Carter did. Look at the risks he took for a country that wasn't his. Israel has benefited unbelievably from that.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-wright/look-at-what-jimmy-carter-did-look-at-the-risks-he-took-for-a-country/) [Lawrence Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-wright/) > [After my bad experience as a kite, I simply refused to go about as a glowing Sadie-headed chicken. That’s fine for Carter, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/after-my-bad-experience-as-a-kite-i-simply-refused-to-go-about-as-a/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [- "Women should all move to Amazonia, or at least vacation there four times a year." - "Amazonia?" - "It's the girl world in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/women-should-all-move-to-amazonia-or-at-least-vacation-there-four/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [“Mine own people do not care for me, John Carter; I am too unlike them. It is a sad fate, since I must live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-rice-burroughs/mine-own-people-do-not-care-for-me-john-carter-i-am-too-unlike-them/) [Edgar Rice Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-rice-burroughs/) Browse all 437 Carter quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Frankly, neither president [Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter] was an inspiring figure; so, maybe their lack of inspiration by the founders shouldn't surprise us.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Paul Kengor" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kengor/frankly-neither-president-gerald-ford-and-jimmy-carter-was-an/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Carter" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kengor/frankly-neither-president-gerald-ford-and-jimmy-carter-was-an/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/375/paul-kengor-14302_carter_frankly-neither-president-gerald-ford-an_1454500.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/375/paul-kengor-14302_carter_frankly-neither-president-gerald-ford-an_1454500.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/375/paul-kengor-14302_carter_frankly-neither-president-gerald-ford-an_1454500.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Frankly, neither president [Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter] was an inspiring figure; so, maybe their lack of…” — Paul Kengor", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Paul Kengor", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kengor/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Frankly, neither president [Gerald Ford and...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kengor/frankly-neither-president-gerald-ford-and-jimmy-carter-was-an/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kengor/frankly-neither-president-gerald-ford-and-jimmy-carter-was-an/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```