He Never Said 'Malaise'

30 years ago this week, the reception to Jimmy Carter's speech was overwhelmingly positive... Until the "spin" took effect.

Critics dubbed it the "malaise speech." Even though the President never used that word, he never lived down the label.

What he did say addressed the energy crisis, unemployment, inflation and something else a bit more nebulous: "loss of a unity of purpose for our nation." It was a spiritual call to a very materialistic nation, and instead of unifying around a sense of civic sacrifice, it set the stage for the election of the more outwardly optimistic Ronald Reagan.

Audio: NPR's Weekend Edition Sunday, July 12. Host: Liane Hansen.