Long Term Consequences
Canal Maintenance and Operation
The Current Panama Canal Operations are More Efficient.
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"... proved that Free Enterprise is better than socialism" - Jimmy Carter, Nov 29th, 2010
Source: Interview with Jimmy Carter about his book White House Diaries on CSPAN 11/29/2010
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"...The Canal was in better shape than it had been in many, many years." - Jimmy Carter, Oct 25th, 1991
Source: http://www.achievement.org/autodoc/page/car0int-3
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Security
The treaty ratification possibly saved the canal.
"The Senate's approval of the Panama treaties avoided possible disaster. Otherwise, the Panama Canal might very well have been closed. And we might have had fifty thousand or more young Americans on the isthmus, trying to restore the waterway, killing Panamanians, and being killed in turn." Source: Panama Odyssey by William J Jordan page 626
"The Senate's approval of the Panama treaties avoided possible disaster. Otherwise, the Panama Canal might very well have been closed. And we might have had fifty thousand or more young Americans on the isthmus, trying to restore the waterway, killing Panamanians, and being killed in turn." Source: Panama Odyssey by William J Jordan page 626
DeConcini Reservation cited during 1989 Invasion of Panama
"...under the Reservation the US has the unilateral right to use military force to preserve the canal. Under President George W Bush he cited this Reservation for going in with the US military to capture General Noriega the dictator of Panama who has been in US prison for many years and wanted in France under a criminal indictment." - Email interview with Senator DeConcini |
"...to protect the integrity of the Panama Canal Treaties." - President George W. Bush
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Infomercials"The ACU produced the single biggest innovation of the treaty fight - the infomercial. Annoying but effective paid television programs touting products -- diets, skin creams, exercise equipment, hair restorers, and so forth -- did not come into vogue until 1984 when FCC ended limits on how much commercial time a station could show." - Source: Drawing the Line at the Big Ditch: Panama Canal Treaties and the Rise of the Right by Adam Clymer |
Live Broadcasts of Senate Proceedings
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"From NPR , the Senate debates the Panama Canal Treaties..."
Source: NPR All Things Considered - March 24, 2008 |
The senate floor Panama Canal treaty debates on National Public Radio set precedence for future live broadcasts by C-SPAN. |
The Good and Bad Effects of Continuous Coverage
"The broadcasting of Senate debate has led to two things. First, it has
increased the public's awareness of what happens in Congress. This is
a good thing. But, it has also led members of Congress
to stake out extreme positions in a very public way. As a result,
subsequent compromise is more difficult. This is has made it more
difficult for Congress to resolve important policy questions. This is
a bad thing" - Email Interview with Forrest Maltzman, March 13th, 2011
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"... certain amount of grandstanding"
Source: NPR All Things Considered - March 24, 2008 |
International
Carter's efforts on the Panama Canal contributed to his 2002 Nobel Peace Prize.The treaty sent a message to the world that a democratic nation can be fair.
"That's my own personal belief, which may not be completely provable...But I think it had a major impact all over the world - to show that a democratic nation can be fair. Even though powerful enough to dominate others, we chose not to dominate, but to treat them as equals and to treat them with dignity and respect."- Jimmy Carter Source: Savvy Navigator of a Turbulent Canal, Janelle Conaway
"That's my own personal belief, which may not be completely provable...But I think it had a major impact all over the world - to show that a democratic nation can be fair. Even though powerful enough to dominate others, we chose not to dominate, but to treat them as equals and to treat them with dignity and respect."- Jimmy Carter Source: Savvy Navigator of a Turbulent Canal, Janelle Conaway
Political
The support of the senators who were elected after the Panama Canal Treaty negotiations allowed President Reagan to cut taxes and increase defense spending.
"...Reagan obtained legislation to stimulate economic growth, curb inflation, increase employment, and strengthen national defense. He embarked upon a course of cutting taxes and Government expenditures, refusing to deviate from it when the strengthening of defense forces led to a large deficit." - Source: www.whitehouse.gov
"...Reagan obtained legislation to stimulate economic growth, curb inflation, increase employment, and strengthen national defense. He embarked upon a course of cutting taxes and Government expenditures, refusing to deviate from it when the strengthening of defense forces led to a large deficit." - Source: www.whitehouse.gov
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