Jimmy Carter, born on October 1, 1924, in Plains, Georgia, attended the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, graduated in 1946, and worked as a Naval officer for seven years. He married Rosalynn Smith in 1946 and had four children: John William, James Earl III, Donnel Jeffrey, and Amy Lynn.
In July of 1953, Jimmy Carter received the call that his father had died. After years of serving the country, Carter returned to Georgia to take over his family’s declining farm and soon entered the realm of politics.
In 1962, he entered state politics as a Democrat and became Georgia’s governor eight years later. He focused on government efficiency, environmental conservation, and removing racial barriers among young southern governors.
In December 1974, Carter announced his presidential candidacy and began a two-year campaign. He was nominated at the Democratic Convention and defeated President Gerald R. Ford by 297 electoral votes.
Jimmy Carter served as president from January 20, 1977, to January 20, 1981. Carter worked to address economic issues like inflation and unemployment. Carter’s presidency is recognized by the establishment of the Departments of Education and Energy, creating an energy plan during the 1979 oil crisis, designating over 50 million acres of Alaska wilderness as federally protected national monuments, as well as his commitment to inclusivity and peace in the Middle East. One of the downs of Carter’s term was in his foreign policy, such as when the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan disrupted the ratification of an agreement between the US and the Soviet Union that would limit nuclear weapon possession, or when the US embassy staff was taken hostage in Iran. Those, alongside the continued inflation, created a perception of weakness that most likely contributed to Carter’s unsuccessful reelection in 1980.
Even though Carter left office in 1981, that is not where his legacy ends. Even after his presidency, he continued to work for what he believed in. He even has one of the longest post-presidency careers out of all the other Presidents.
In 1982, he established The Carter Center, a non-profit organization to advance human rights and improve life for people in over 80 countries. That same year, he became a teacher at Emory University.
In 2002, Carter won the Nobel Peace Prize for his work with the Carter Center, overseeing elections, and providing hurricane aid to Latin America, Asia, and Africa.
Over the years, Jimmy Carter has published more than 30 books, from historical fiction to memoirs, including life lessons throughout. Carter is not only remembered for his presidency but for how he seized his opportunities even after his term ended, and he will continue to be an inspiration to the American people.
Sources:
https://www.whitehouse.gov/about-the-white-house/presidents/james-carter/
https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/peace/2002/carter/facts/
https://www.colorado.edu/today/2025/01/02/understanding-legacy-president-jimmy-carter
