Historian Kevin Mattson, author of a book about Jimmy Carter's 'Crisis of Confidence' speech, dives into the transformative moment of 1979 when Carter challenged American consumerism. He explores how this speech sought community values and personal responsibility during a time of national discontent. Mattson also discusses the contradictions in Carter's message and its fleeting ripple of hope, while contrasting Carter's reflective leadership style with the charismatic emergence of figures like Reagan, shaping political dynamics even today.