Jimmy Carter rose from humble beginnings on a peanut farm to become the 39th president of the United States. After his presidency Carter worked to promote human rights around the world and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. He is currently the oldest living former president at 97 years old.
James Earle Carter Jr. was born on October 1, 1924 in Plains, Georgia. He grew up in nearby Archery, Georgia where his father owned a peanut farm and a local store. He started working at his father’s store when he was 10 years old. He graduated from Plains High School and then studied at Georgia Southwestern Junior College and the Georgia Institute of Technology. Finally he attended the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.
In the Naval Academy Jimmy dated Rosalynn, his future wife. After graduating the Naval Acadamy in 1946, he entered the Navy where he worked on submarines including the new nuclear powered submarines. Jimmy loved the Navy and had planned to spend his career there, but after his father died he went to help out in the family business. After working in the business for some time, he decided to go into politics.
His first position in politics was as a Georgia State Senator from 1963 to 1967. He ran for governor of Georgia in 1966, but lost by a large amount. He ran again in 1970 and won by a landslide. Jimmy Carter served as governor of Georgia from 1971 to 1975. In his inaugural speech, he declared that “the time of racial discrimination is over.” During his time as governor he streamlined the state government and expanded the number of black state employees.
Jimmy Carter ran for president in 1976 against the incumbent Gerald Ford. Jimmy Carter won by the closest margin of electoral votes in American history at the time. From 1977 to 1981 he served one term as president. During his term, he made a national energy policy that had better technology, price control, and conservation. He also worked for human rights and peace in the Middle East. He also continued the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks with the Soviet Union and established diplomatic relations with China. There were some struggles during his presidency such as inflation, unemployment, and the Iran hostage situation.
After his presidency Jimmy Carter established the Carter Center. This non-profit organization has helped to improve life for people in more than 80 countries by resolving conflicts, advancing democracy and human rights, preventing diseases, and improving mental health care. Jimmy Carter was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 for “his work to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development.”
Jimmy Carter currently lives in Plains, Georgia . He recently celebrated his 75th wedding anniversary with his wife Rosalynn Carter. He has four children, twelve grandchildren, and thirteen great grandchildren. Until the virus started, he used to teach Sunday School every week at the Maranatha Baptist Church.
Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum
Jimmy Carter helped Advanced democracy to help with elections in other countries, human rights, preventing diseases, and improving mental health care. Habitat of Humanity, build 100 homes in Haiti. Inside there are many cool things about his life and also it has his Noble peace prize he was awarded in 2002.
Jimmy Carter Boyhood Home
Jimmy Carter grew up in nearby Archery, Georgia. His father owned a local store and a peanut farm. This house was located near the local store and it had many acres of farmland.
Plains High School
The Plains High School is where Jimmy Carter went to high school. His wife Rosalyn went there also. After he went here he studied at Georgia Southwestern Junior College and then he attended the Naval Academy in Maryland.
Jimmy Carter Peanut Statue
Visitors to Plains, Georgia are greeted with a large smiling peanut monument! This roadside attraction was built to support Jimmy Carter during his 1976 Presidential campaign. This is one of many sites within the small city which celebrate the life of the 39th President.
Billy Carter Gas Station Museum
The Billy Carter Gas Station Museum is Jimmy Carters brothers gas station. His brother’s gas station became very popular nationwide when Jimmy Carter won the 1976 presidential election. There is a small museum inside that shows some of the items in the gas station, like Billy Beer, and some plaques that discuss the history of billy Carter and the gas station.
Plains Depot
The Plains Depot was where Jimmy Carter had in his Campaign Headquarters. He used it in the 1976 election running against Gerald Ford.
