The U.S. response to the threat was an "all of the above" energy approach that began under Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford but was largely enacted by Carter. The moves set the stage for greater U.S. energy development, particularly in natural gas, and cut America’s crude oil imports in half between 1979 and 1983.

By the end of his term in 1980, President Jimmy Carter had appointed more women and people of color to the federal bench than all previous presidents combined.