ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- Former President Jimmy Carter appeared to backtrack Monday from a blistering attack he leveled against President Bush last week, when he referred to the current administration as "the worst in history."

"If you look at the exchange, it was a comparison between (President) Nixon's foreign policy and President Bush's foreign policy, and I did compare favorably toward what Nixon did in international affairs, there's no question about that," Carter told reporters in St. Bernard Parish, La., where he was helping build houses for Habitat for Humanity.

"I should have avoided the question or been more careful," he added.

Asked whether he stands by his assertion that the Bush administration is the worst, he said, "No, I didn't say that."

"You didn't say that it's the worst in history?" he was asked.

At that, the Nobel Peace Prize winner and Baptist Sunday School teacher paused, then said, "Not intentionally."

When Carter was asked whether he feels the current administration is history's worst, Carter's media handler interrupted. "Excuse me, thank you all," he said as he whisked Carter away from the reporters to resume working on a house.