People view Reagan and not Carter as an ideal American leader because Carter's weakness resulted in the overthrow of the Shah of Iran, then Iran took our diplomats hostage and Carter could not get them released, even after a failed rescue attempt called #DesertOne. Carter's economy was rotten, while Reagan's economy was so good that he was re-elected on the cheerful slogan #MorningInAmerica. Carter kept our athletes out of the Olympics, while Reagan had a successful Olympics in California, etc.