The nation in a state

In the wake of the 1979 Iranian Revolution, a global energy crisis unfolded characterised by long queues of cars outside petrol stations amidst fuel shortages and sky-high prices. US President Jimmy Carter sought to calm his nation, build its resolve and plot a path forward. His memorable July television address was later dubbed the "malaise speech," even though Carter never used that word. It focused on the profound sense of drift and unease, calling Americans to introspection:

"The threat is nearly invisible in ordinary ways. It is a crisis of confidence. It is a crisis that strikes at the very heart and soul and spirit of our national will. We can see this crisis in the growing doubt about the meaning of our own lives and in the loss of a unity of purpose for our nation."