DAVE HILL/Daily Bruin Senior Staff Former President
Jimmy Carter speaks about world peace to a full
Royce Hall Wednesday evening after receiving the UCLA Medal, the
university’s highest honor, from Chancellor Albert Carnesale.
By Timothy Kudo
Daily Bruin Senior Staff
Former President Jimmy Carter spoke about peace Wednesday at
UCLA.
“I would like the world to know that the United States of
America is the champion of peace,” Carter said.
After receiving the UCLA medal from Chancellor Albert Carnesale,
Carter gave a lecture titled “Talking Peace,” in a
packed Royce Hall.
Spanning from the problems in the Middle East to the Iran
hostage crisis he faced in his last year as president, Carter
espoused the need for the world’s nations to utilize peaceful
means of conflict resolution rather than resorting to warfare.
Carter also criticized the presidential candidates this year,
saying they only gave foreign policy issues the same lip service
they are always given rather than considering any serious changes
in the country’s foreign policy.
Specifically, he criticized the failure of congress to pass the
Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty and the fact that the U.S. is
the last remaining country to yet sign an international ban on land
mines.
Additionally, he attacked the national missile defense system,
which he believes “is a total fraud on the American people
and a complete waste of money.”
During Carter’s term in office, from 1977-1981, he
achieved the Camp David Accords ““ which made peace between
Israel and Egypt ““ and the signing of the Strategic Arms
Limitation Treaty II.
At the end of his term, however, Carter faced criticism for his
handling of the release of hostages from the American Embassy in
Iran after its takeover late in his term.
In a question-and-answer session after his talk, Carter
responded to whether he regretted his handling of the affair
““ which saw the 52 hostages released on the day he left
office.
When making that decision, Carter said he had two hopes: that he
would maintain the integrity of his office and country and that
everyone would return safely.
“Both those prayers were answered,” he said as the
crowd erupted into one of many standing ovations.
He also criticized President Clinton’s attack on
Yugoslavia.
Though at the time he didn’t say anything, he disapproved
of the President Clinton’s use of cluster bombs
“clearly intended to kill people.”
“It’s inappropriate for me as an ex-president to
disagree with an incumbent president,” he said.
At one point during the Q&A, an audience member interrupted
one question to ask his own and was escorted forcefully out by
security, to the razzing of the audience.
Later on, Carter asked if someone could get him a message.
“If he’ll send me his question in writing,
I’ll respond to him personally,” Carter said.
For much of the lecture, the former president used the example
of his human rights organization, the Carter Center, to illustrate
the different options available in any peace process.
“President Carter continues ardently and actively to
pursue the causes he holds most dear,” said Chancellor Albert
Carnesale.
As a precursor to the advances just recently made between North
Korea and South Korea, Carter talked about his journey to meet with
Kim Il Sung, the communist leader who invaded South Korea.
Carter said he would meet with the leader, but only if he could
cross the demilitarized zone separating the divided nation. Though
he received approval from Kim, he could not get permission from
President Clinton to make the trip.
Not wanting to go against the
White House, he didn’t make the trip until the threat of
war was eminent as the U.S. prepared to issue sanctions against
North Korea.
But even then the White House didn’t approve ““ until
he received a little help.
“I said “˜I have decided to go to North Korea,’
and the letter was intercepted at the White House by Al
Gore,” Carter said. “He called me up and said
“˜Change your words to “I am strongly inclined to
go” and I’ll see what I can do to get it
approved.'”
“So he got it approved and I was able to go,” he
continued.
Carter then became the first person to cross that border
directly in 43 years.
Though thought of by some as being better as an ex-president
than president because of his many accomplishments after his term,
some who attended the event continue to praise his presidency.
Specifically, they recognized him as a man who will always be
known as one of the few politicians who could stand with his
character.
“In terms of integrity, he’s definitely a role model
for presidents to come,” said Rachel Graustark, a first-year
undeclared student.