Let $\mathbf{a},$ $\mathbf{b},$ and $\mathbf{c}$ be vectors such that $\|\mathbf{a}\| = \|\mathbf{b}\| = 1,$ $\|\mathbf{c}\| = \frac{2}{\sqrt{7}},$ and
\[\mathbf{c} + \mathbf{c} \times \mathbf{a} = \mathbf{b}.\]Find the smallest possible angle between $\mathbf{a}$ and $\mathbf{c},$ in degrees.
Since $\mathbf{c} + \mathbf{c} \times \mathbf{a} = \mathbf{b},$
\[(\mathbf{c} + \mathbf{c} \times \mathbf{a}) \cdot (\mathbf{c} + \mathbf{c} \times \mathbf{a}) = \mathbf{b} \cdot \mathbf{b}.\]This expands as
\[\mathbf{c} \cdot \mathbf{c} + 2 \mathbf{c} \cdot (\mathbf{c} \times \mathbf{a}) + (\mathbf{c} \times \mathbf{a}) \cdot (\mathbf{c} \times \mathbf{a}) = \mathbf{b} \cdot \mathbf{b}.\]We know $\mathbf{b} \cdot \mathbf{b} = \|\mathbf{b}\|^2 = 1$ and $\mathbf{c} \cdot \mathbf{c} = \|\mathbf{c}\|^2 = \frac{4}{7}.$

Since $\mathbf{c} \times \mathbf{a}$ is orthogonal to $\mathbf{c},$
\[\mathbf{c} \cdot (\mathbf{c} \times \mathbf{a}) = 0.\]Finally, $(\mathbf{c} \times \mathbf{a}) \cdot (\mathbf{c} \times \mathbf{a}) = \|\mathbf{c} \times \mathbf{a}\|^2.$  Let $\theta$ be the angle between $\mathbf{a}$ and $\mathbf{c}.$  Then
\[\|\mathbf{c} \times \mathbf{a}\| = \|\mathbf{a}\| \|\mathbf{c}\| \sin \theta = \frac{2}{\sqrt{7}} \sin \theta,\]so $\|\mathbf{c} \times \mathbf{a}\|^2 = \frac{4}{7} \sin^2 \theta.$  Hence,
\[\frac{4}{7} + \frac{4}{7} \sin^2 \theta = 1.\]This leads to
\[\sin^2 \theta = \frac{3}{4}.\]so
\[\sin \theta = \pm \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}.\]The smallest possible angle $\theta$ is then $\boxed{60^\circ}.$

The vectors $\mathbf{a} = \begin{pmatrix} 1/2 \\ \sqrt{3}/2 \\ 0 \end{pmatrix},$ $\mathbf{b} = \begin{pmatrix} 2/\sqrt{7} \\ 0 \\ \sqrt{3/7} \end{pmatrix},$ and $\mathbf{c} = \begin{pmatrix} 2/\sqrt{7} \\ 0 \\ 0 \end{pmatrix}$ show that an angle of $60^\circ $ is achievable.