Every so often, a presidency comes to be seen in a new light. An example of this is President Jimmy Carter, a man viewed by some as part of a troubled period in Democratic politics. A series of new books are shedding light on the Carter presidency, his legacy and what was happening in the 1970s.

In this episode, Julian Zelizer is joined by Amb. Stuart Eizenstat, who offers a comprehensive history of the Carter presidency. Amb. Eizenstat has held several key positions, including chief White House domestic policy adviser to President Jimmy Carter, U.S. ambassador to the European Union, undersecretary of commerce for international trade and deputy secretary of the treasury in the Clinton administration.

In his new book, “President Carter: The White House Years,” Eizenstat draws on more than 5,000 pages of notes and hundreds of interviews to give a close view on how the presidency works, Carter’s successes and failures and his lasting impact on the country.

ABOUT THE HOST

Zelizer is the Malcolm Stevenson Forbes, Class of 1941 Professor of History and Public Affairs at Princeton University's Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs. He is also a CNN Political Analyst and columnist for the Atlantic. He is the author of several books including, most recently, "The Fierce Urgency of Now: Lyndon Johnson, Congress, and the Battle for the Great Society," which was just awarded the DB Hardeman Prize for the Best Book on Congress. He has edited and authored 19 books on American political history and published over 700 hundred op-eds, including his popular weekly column on CNN.com.