Under the terms of the Carter-Torrijos Panama Canal Treaty, which expires on Dec. 31, 1999, the United States is not obliged to leave Panama until midnight, as the year 2000 begins.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Panama slipping into China's ready grasp?

Carter, who did not have the same kind of deep ideological differences as FDR with the Democrats he offended, flooded Congress with unpopular proposals such as energy reform and the Panama Canal Treaty without also putting forth measures that would have bigger political rewards for incumbents seeking to keep voters happy.

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