His surprise at the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan was telling as was his overreaction (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_invasion_of_Afganistan#I...), including a grain embargo and canceling our participation in the Moscow Olympics. Followed by a big military buildup in the next term of whoever was in office; quite a shift from this first year in office quote (http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Jimmy_Carter#Foreign_policy):

"Being confident of our own future, we are now free of that inordinate fear of communism which once led us to embrace any dictator who joined us in that fear. I’m glad that that’s being changed."