The following is a timeline of the presidency of Jimmy Carter, from January 1, 1979 to December 31, 1979.
January January 1 – In a statement, President Carter announces the day marks the beginning of diplomatic relations between the United States and China.Premier Hua Guofeng of the People's Republic of China New Year's Message From the President. (January 1, 1979) January 2 – President Carter holds an hour long Cabinet Room meeting with Prime Minister of Australia Malcolm Fraser, being said to have discussed "a broad range of global and regional topics of importance to Australia and the United States, including developments in Iran and the Middle East, the need for cooperation among the developed nations to combat inflation and restore economic health and stability throughout the world, and the recent United States decision to normalize relations with the People's Republic of China."Meeting With Prime Minister J. Malcolm Fraser of Australia White House Statement. (January 2, 1979) January 2 – President Carter issues Executive Order 12111, deleting Assistant to the Secretary and Land Utilization Adviser in the Department of the Interior and replacing it with Counselor on Labor Management Relations in the Department of Commerce.Executive Order 12111—Executive Schedule(January 2, 1979) January 4 – President Carter issues a memorandum on a program concerning federal pay and anti-inflation.Federal Pay and the Anti-Inflation Program Memorandum From the President. (January 4, 1979) January 4 – President Carter issues a memorandum to the Special Representative for Trade Negotiations on the subject of international trade agreements.Memorandum From the President on International Trade Agreements (January 4, 1979) January 4 – President Carter announces the immediate joining of the White House staff by William Simpson, who will take the position of Deputy Assistant to the President.Deputy Assistant to the President Appointment of William Simpson. (January 4, 1979) January 4 – United States Attorney General Griffin Bell says the administration is willing to deport any foreign student that takes part in illegal violence in the US.Foreign Students Face Expulsion For Violence (January 5, 1979) January 4 – President Carter, First Lady Rosalynn Carter, and their youngest child Amy fly into Guadeloupe for two days of talks at a foundation summit. They arrive at Le Raizet Airport during the afternoon.Iran Crisis Likely Focus Of Summit (January 5, 1979) January 5 – Government sources report that the Defense Department has drafted a new strategic policy intended to prevent or counter a Soviet nuclear strike.Pentagon Maps New Strategy (January 5, 1979) January 7 – Prime Minister of Israel Menachem Begin says Israel and Egypt are ready to negotiate again to continue the progression toward a peace treaty and were waiting for Washington to invite them back for talks while speaking to reporters. He insists the US government must take the initiative to bring the two countries together and states his hope that this will occur soon.Israel, Egypt Waiting For U.S. To Start Talks Again (January 7, 1979) January 7 – During a CBS appearance, United States Secretary of Energy James Schlesinger states the likelihood of a six to seven percent increase in gas prices that year and the possibility of Iranian oil stoppage leading to either rationing or government allocations of supplies in the event that it lasts longer than three months.Schlesinger Says Gas Prices To Rise 6 to 7 Cents in '79 (January 8, 1979) January 8 – President Carter announces the nomination of K. Mathea Falco for Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics Matters.Department of State Nomination of K. Mathea Falco To Be Assistant Secretary for International Narcotics Matters. (January 8, 1979) January 10 – President Carter issues Proclamation 4633, a proclamation designating February 1979 as "American Heart Month".Proclamation 4633—American Heart Month, 1979 (January 10, 1979) January 11 – President Carter calls on Americans in a public statement to rededicate themselves to the principles of Martin Luther King Jr., given the upcoming (January 15) fiftieth anniversary of his birth.Anniversary of the Birth of Martin Luther King, Jr. Message of the President. (January 11, 1979) January 11 – President Carter announces the nomination of Gordon Vickery for Administrator of the United States Fire Administration.United States Fire Administration Nomination of Gordon Vickery To Be Administrator. (January 11, 1979) January 22 – President Carter announces the nomination of Stephen W. Bosworth for Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States to the Republic of Tunisia.United States Ambassador to Tunisia Nomination of Stephen W. Bosworth. (January 22, 1979) January 26 – President Carter holds his forty-third news conference in Room 450 of the Old Executive Office Building. President Carter answers questions from reporters on China and Taiwan, strategic arms limitation, Iran, federal judge selection, his potential re-election campaign, relations between the US and the Soviet Union, and minority education programs.The President's News Conference (January 26, 1979) January 27 – President Carter issues a statement on the death of Nelson Rockefeller who he credits with "helping to reassure the Nation with his own integrity and vigorous optimism."Nelson A. Rockefeller Statement on the Death of the Former Vice President. (January 27, 1979)
January 29 – President Carter attends the welcoming ceremony for Chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Deng Xiaoping on the South Lawn.Visit of Vice Premier Deng Xiaoping of the People's Republic of China Remarks at the Welcoming Ceremony. (January 29, 1979) January 29 – In a letter to Speaker of the House of Representatives Tip O'Neill and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Frank Church, President Carter submits a report "on progress made during the past 60 days toward the conclusion of a negotiated solution of the Cyprus problem."The Cyprus Conflict Letter to the Speaker of the House and the Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. (January 29, 1979) January 29 – President Carter attends a state dinner for Deng in the State Dining Room.Visit of Vice Premier Deng of China Toasts at the State Dinner. (January 29, 1979) January 29 – President Carter and Deng deliver remarks in the Opera House of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.Visit of Vice Premier Deng of China Remarks Following a Performance at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. (January 29, 1979) January 30 – President Carter announces the nomination of Michael Kasha for membership on the National Science Board.National Science Board Nomination of Michael Kasha To Be a Member. (January 30, 1979) January 30 – President Carter announces the nomination of Sidney A. Diamond for Assistant Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks.Patent and Trademark Office Nomination of Sidney ,4. Diamond To Be an Assistant Commissioner. (January 30, 1979) January 30 – President Carter announces the nominations of three individuals for membership on the National Commission on Libraries and Information Science.National Commission on Libraries and Information Science Nomination of Three Members. (January 30, 1979) January 31 – In a message to Congress, President Carter reports "ten proposals to rescind a total of $914.6 million in budget authority previously provided by the Congress."Budget Rescissions and Deferrals Message to the Congress. (January 31, 1979) January 31 – President Carter and Deng sign three exchange agreements in the East Room, providing Chinese consular offices in San Francisco and Houston in exchange for American consular offices in Shanghai and Canton, a joint commission on science and technology, and cultural exchanges in journalism, sports, arts, and humanities.Teng Ends D.C. Visit; Signs 3 Pacts With U.S. (January 31, 1979) January 31 – Energy Secretary Schlesinger says the Carter administration has to decide by April 1 on enforcing mandatory constraints on gas consumption and oil due to the oil imports halt from Iran.Carter Must Decide By April 1 On Oil Curbs, Schlesinger Says (February 1, 1979) January 31 – In a vote of 11 to 2, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee votes to approve the nomination of George M. Seignious for Director of the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency.Committee Approves Seignious (February 1, 1979)
February February 1 – President Carter announces the appointment of Orville L. Freeman for membership on the Presidential Commission on World Hunger.Presidential Commission on World Hunger Appointment of Orville L. Freeman as a Member. (February 1, 1979) February 1 – President Carter issues Proclamation 4636, designating March 1979 as "Red Cross Month".Proclamation 4636—Red Cross Month, 1979 (February 1, 1979) February 1 – President Carter issues a memorandum to agency heads instructing them on can be done by the federal government to address Red Cross Month.Memorandum From the President on Red Cross Month, 1979 (February 1, 1979) February 1 – President Carter announces the nominations of Richard R. Allen and George W. Camp for governors of the United States Postal Service.United States Postal Service Nomination of Two Governors, (February 1, 1979) February 2 – President Carter announces the nomination of Joan M. Clark for Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States to the Republic of Malta.United States Ambassador to Malta Nomination of Ivan M. Clark. (February 2, 1979) February 2 – President Carter announces his according of Herbert F. York as ambassador while York heads the American delegation to the Comprehensive Test Ban Negotiations.Comprehensive Test Ban Negotiations Accordance of the Personal Rank of Ambassador to Herbert F. York, Head of the U.S. Delegation. (February 2, 1979) February 2 – President Carter issues a memorandum directing agency and department leadership on what actions he recommends be taken to conserve energy.Memorandum From the President on Energy Use by the Federal Government (February 2, 1979) February 5 – President Carter announces the nomination of Loren E. Lawrence for Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States to Jamaica.United States Ambassador to Jamaica Nomination of Loren E. Lawrence. (February 5, 1979) February 6 – President Carter announces the nomination of John P. Lewis for the rank of Minister amid his tenure as chairman of the Development Assistance Committee of the U.S. Mission to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development Nomination of John P. Lewis for the Rank of Minister While Serving as Chairman of the Development Assistance Committee. (February 6, 1979) February 8 – President Carter announces the nomination of A.D. Frazier, Jr. for membership on the National Council on the Humanities.National Council on the Humanities Nomination of A. D. Frazier, Jr., To Be a Member. (February 8, 1979) February 8 – President Carter issues Proclamation 4638, designating the week of March 18 as "National Poison Prevention Week".Proclamation 4638—National Poison Prevention Week, 1979 (February 8, 1979)
February 14 – President Carter announces the nomination of Jesse Hill, Jr. for membership on the board of directors of the Communications Satellite Corporation.Communications Satellite Corporation Nomination of Jesse Hill, Jr., To Be a Member of the Board of Directors. (February 14, 1979) February 14 – President Carter announces the appointments of members of the President's Commission on Pension Policy.President's Commission on Pension Policy Appointment of 10 Members. (February 14, 1979)