WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Former President Jimmy Carter called his recent criticisms of the Bush Administration "careless or misinterpreted" Monday, in an interview on NBC's "Today Show."

The former president said his comments over the weekend labeling the Bush administration the "worst in history" were wrongly "interpreted as comparing this administration to all other administrations."

Carter was quoted Saturday in the Arkansas Democrat Gazette as saying, "I think as far as the adverse impact on the nation around the world, this administration has been the worst in history."

But on Monday, Carter said he was only comparing the Bush administration's policy with that of the Nixon administration -- not every presidential administration in American history.

Carter's original comments led to a fiery backlash from White House spokesman Tony Fratto on Sunday, who called the former president "increasingly irrelevant."

"I think it's sad that President Carter's reckless personal criticism is out there," Fratto said. "I think it's unfortunate. And I think he is proving to be increasingly irrelevant with these kinds of comments."