"In length, intensity, and uncertainty, the debate was unequaled since the Senate had rejected the Treaty of Versailles in 1919. The Senate ratified the two treaties, with with one vote to spare, in March and April 1978, largely due to bipartisan statesmanship by Senate leaders, in some cases at cost to their political careers." ~The Good Neighbors: America, Panama and the 1977 Canal Treaties "Carter
did not seem to realize the depth of domestic political opposition to the idea
of a new treaty with Panama. He did not seem to realize that in calling for
a new treaty with Panama, he rekindled one of the most persistent, intractable
controversies over American foreign policy in the twentieth century."
~The Panama Canal in American Politics |
"This was the worst political battle I ever got into. It was more
difficult to get the Panama Canal Treaties ratified by two-thirds of
the Senate of the United States than it was for me to get elected
President in the first place. It was a very deep and bitter political
battle, and many people still haven't gotten over it. I never go
through a week of my life now that I don't get letters from people
condemning the Panama Canal Treaties. Still, and this is I don't know
how many years later. 1978? Thirteen years later. But it was a good
thing to do."
~Jimmy Carter |