How a 1976 campaign promise led the U.S. to stockpile massive amounts of cheese.
In 1976, Jimmy Carter made a campaign pledge that unexpectedly birthed the cultural phenomenon known as government cheese. This episode explores why the government began purchasing vast quantities of dairy, eventually holding two pounds of cheese for every American, and the national security concerns that drove the policy.
The U.S. government's involvement in the dairy market was rooted in the belief that domestic food production is a critical national security issue. Policymakers feared that if American farmers were forced out of business, the country would become dangerously reliant on foreign food sources.
This strategy resulted in the government accumulating massive dairy surpluses, leading to the distribution of government cheese. The program became a lasting cultural touchstone, appearing in everything from comedy sketches and music to cooking shows featuring Martha Stewart and Snoop Dogg.
