The following is a timeline of the presidency of Jimmy Carter, from January 1, 1978, to December 31, 1978.
January January 6 – While speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, President Carter states his most recent tour has advanced the image of the United States as standing for "what is right and decent and good".Carter Thinks U.S. Image Was Improved By His Tour (January 8, 1978) January 15 – The Congressional Budget Office says it is mandatory that the United States spend 6 to 7 billion "for additional tanks, planes and supplies if it wants to use three extra divisions to reinforce NATO in a European war".U.S. Must Spend $6-7 Billion To Reinforce NATO Forces (January 16, 1978) January 20 – President Carter signs an Economic Report during a signing ceremony in the Roosevelt Room.Economic Report and Tax and Budget Messages Remarks at the Signing Ceremony. (January 20, 1978) January 20 – President Carter presents the Alexander Hamilton Award to Laurence N. Woodworth and Secretary of the Treasury W. Michael Blumenthal in the Roosevelt Room.Alexander Hamilton Award for Laurence N. Woodworth Remarks of the President and Secretary of the Treasury Blumenthal at the Presentation Ceremony (January 20, 1978) January 20 – President Carter signs Executive Order 12035, an amendment of the first section of Executive Order 11861.Executive Order 12035—Executive Schedule (January 20, 1978) January 20 – President Carter sends a report describing progression made during the previous sixty days on negotiations in regards to Cyprus to Congress in a message.The Cyprus Conflict Message to the Congress Reporting on Progress Toward a Negotiated Settlement. (January 20, 1978) January 20 – President Carter transmits the ninth annual report on the National Science Board in a message to Congress, saying the "data and indicators presented herein should prove useful to anyone needing an authoritative source of information on various aspects of the scientific enterprise in this country."National Science Board Message to the Congress Transmitting a Report. (January 20, 1978) January 20 – President Carter submits his annual economic message to Congress. He states his intent to collaborate with Congress on the development of a program intended to address both short- and long-term needs in the American economy in addition to his proposals of tax reductions alongside reforms "to continue our strong economic recovery, to encourage increased investment by American businesses, and to create a simpler and fairer tax system."Annual Message to the Congress: The Economic Report of the President (January 20, 1978) January 20 – President Carter announces that starting the following day, "all imported sugar will be subject to fixed fees of 2.7 cents per pound for raw sugar and 3.22 cents per pound for refined sugar, not to exceed 50 percent of the value of imported sugar" and that directions have been administered to the International Trade Commission for an expanded investigation of import sugar intended to "determine whether sugar-containing products are being or will be imported in quantities and under conditions that will result in national interference to the sugar price support operations being conducted by the Department of Agriculture."Statement on Signing Proclamation 4547 – Sugar, Sirups, and Molasses Imports (January 20, 1978) January 24 – President Carter announces his issuing of an executive order "concerning the organization and control of United States foreign intelligence activities" that is intended to begin the process of developing "a foundation for the drafting of statutory charters".United States Foreign Intelligence Activities Statement on Executive Order 12036. (January 24, 1978) January 24 – President Carter announces the appointment of Charles H. Pillard for vice chairman of the President's Committee on Employment of the Handicapped.President's Committee on Employment of the Handicapped Appointment of Charles H. Pillard as Vice Chairman. (January 24, 1978) January 24 – President Carter announces the reappointment of Dennis A. Grotting for Commissioner of the United States Section of the International North Pacific Fisheries Commission.International North Pacific Fisheries Commission Appointment of Dennis A. Grotting as Commissioner of the United States Section.(January 24, 1978) January 24 – President Carter transmits the 1976 Annual Report of the Federal Prevailing Rate Advisory Committee to Congress in a message.Federal Prevailing Rate Advisory Committee Message to the Congress Transmitting a Report. (January 24, 1978) January 24 – President Carter announces the nominations of thirteen individuals for membership on the General Advisory Committee to the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency.United States Arms Control and Disarmament Agency Nomination of 13 Members of the General Advisory Committee. (January 24, 1978) January 24 – President Carter announces the appointment of eighteen individuals for membership on the National Advisory Committee on Oceans and Atmosphere.National Advisory Committee on Oceans and Atmosphere Appointment of 18 Members. (January 24, 1978) January 25 – President Carter announces the nomination of Omi G. Walden for Assistant Secretary of Energy.Department of Energy Nomination of Omi G. Walden To Be an Assistant Secretary. (January 25, 1978) January 25 – President Carter announces the nomination of Robert B. Lagather for Assistant Secretary of Labor for Mine Safety and Health.Department of Labor Nomination of Robert B. Lagather To Be Assistant Secretary for Mine Safety and Health. (January 25, 1978) January 25 – President Carter announces the appointment of Johnnie W. Prothro for membership on the board for International Food and Agricultural Development.Board for International Food and Agricultural Development Appointment of Johnnie W. Prothro as a Member. (January 25, 1978) January 25 – President Carter transmits the International Sugar Agreement to the Senate in a message, saying the agreement "seeks to stabilize sugar prices to meet both our domestic interests as a major consumer and producer of sugar, and our international interests as the world's largest importer of sugar."International Sugar Agreement, 1977 Message to the Senate Transmitting the Agreement. (January 25, 1978) January 25 – President Carter meets with head of the delegation of parliamentarians of the Supreme Soviet visiting the United States Boris Ponomarev during the afternoon.Meeting With Head of Delegation of Supreme Soviet Parliamentarians White House Statement Issued Following the Meeting With B. N. Ponomareo. (January 25, 1978) January 26 – President Carter transmits proposed legislation that he says "will significantly improve the organization and operation of the Federal government's highway and transit programs" in a message to Congress.Highway and Transit Programs Message to the Congress Proposing Legislation. (January 26, 1978) January 26 – President Carter announces the nomination of Frank Gregg for director of the Bureau of Land Management in the Interior Department.Bureau of Land Management Nomination of Frank Gregg To Be Director. (January 26, 1978) January 26 – President Carter announces the nomination of Elwood T. Driver for membership on the National Transportation Safety Board.National Transportation Safety Board Nomination of Elwood T. Driver To Be a Member. (January 26, 1978) January 27 – President Carter reports three proposals over the rescinding of a total of $55.3 million in budget authority Congress previously provided in a message to Congress.Budget Rescissions and Deferrals Message to the Congress. (January 27, 1978) January 27 – President Carter issues a statement in observance of Black History Month, calling on Americans to pay "attention to the contributions of black people to our overall progress and development, the month of February thus serves to build goodwill and understanding between all people."National Afro-American (Black) History Month, February 1978 Message of the President. (January 27, 1978) January 29 – President Carter attends a White House reception for the tenth anniversary of Ford's Theatre in the East Room.10th Anniversary of Ford's Theatre Remarks at a White House Reception. (January 29, 1978) January 30 – President Carter holds his twenty-fourth news conference in Room 450 of the Old Executive Office Building. President Carter begins a conference with an address on domestic programs and the Soviet satellite Cosmos 954, and answers questions on arms sales in the Middle East, American attorney David Marston, the Middle East, the Coal Strike, the nuclear-powered satellite, Soviet satellite Cosmos 954, illegal immigrants, satellite capabilities of the Soviet Union, the Nazi demonstration in Skokie, Illinois, domestic surveillance, farmers parity, and tax reduction and reform.The President's News Conference (January 30, 1978) January 30 – President Carter announces the renominations of Theodore Bikel, Maureen Dees, and Jacob Lawrence for membership on the National Council on the Arts.National Council on the Arts Renomination of Three Members. (January 30, 1978) January 31 – President Carter transmits the eleventh quarterly report of the Council on Wage and Price Stability in a message to Congress.Council on Wage and Price Stability Message to the Congress Transmitting a Report. (January 31, 1978) January 31 – President Carter signs Proclamation 4548, designating May 19, 1978, as "National Defense Transportation Day" in addition to the week beginning May 14, 1978, as "National Transportation Week."Proclamation 4548—National Defense Transportation Day and National Transportation Week, 1978 (January 31, 1978) January 31 – President Carter signs Executive Order 12037, exempting Civil Aeronautics Board member G. Joseph Minetti from mandatory retirement until May 1, 1978, out of his belief that Minetti's continued service represents the best interest of the US.Executive Order 12037—Civil Aeronautics Board (January 31, 1978) January 31 – Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee John C. Stennis announces his opposition to the Panama Canal treaties, citing their causing the US to withdrawal from the Canal Zone too rapidly, a move that he furthered would leave the US "highly uncertain what is going to happen down there".Stennis Says 'Will Oppose Canal Treaties' (February 1, 1978)
February February 1 – President Carter delivers an evening address in defense of the Panama Canal treaties from the Family Library of the White House. He says the only reason the treaties need approval is due to they're being "in the highest national interest of the United States" and would keep the US from involvement in a Panama jungles war.Carter Tells Nation Canal Pact Needed (February 1, 1978) February 9 – President Carter transmits the Agreement between the United States of America and the International Atomic Energy Agency in a message to the Senate for ratification.International Atomic Energy Agency Message to the Senate Transmitting an Agreement on Nuclear Safeguards. (February 9, 1978) February 9 – In a statement, the White House says President Carter "fulfilled a 10-year United States pledge for nuclear safeguards by submitting to the Senate for ratification a treaty with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)."International Atomic Energy Agency Announcement of Transmittal to the Senate of a Nuclear Safeguards Agreement. (February 9, 1978) February 9 – President Carter announces the nomination of Robert M. Sayre for Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States to Brazil.United States Ambassador to Brazil Nomination of Robert M. Sayre. (February 9, 1978)