Jimmy Carter: “advance text: address before a joint session of the Illinois State Legislature”

Our great nation now teeters on the brink of a widening abyss. Without immediate action, we are at genuine risk of civil conflict and losing our precious democracy.

The aircraft carrying the 52 American hostages had cleared Iranian airspace on the first -- first leg of a journey home. And at every one of the 52 hostages was alive, was well and free.

The title was very carefully chosen by me. And the first word is the most important. It's Palestine. The land of the Palestinians. It doesn't refer to Israel at all.

I hope that this book, which is -- has a provocative title, but I don't consider provocative to be a bad word.