1. **Jimmy Carter: Early Life and Georgia Roots**
Jimmy Carter was born James Earl Carter Jr. on October 1, 1924, in Plains, Georgia, the first president born in a hospital. Jimmy Carter grew up on a peanut farm in nearby Archery, son of farmer and businessman James Earl Carter Sr. and nurse Lillian Gordy Carter. Jimmy Carter helped with chores from age five, selling boiled peanuts door-to-door. Jimmy Carter attended Plains High School, graduating in 1941 as valedictorian of a class of 31. Jimmy Carter’s rural upbringing instilled Baptist faith, racial awareness in the segregated South, and a strong work ethic. Jimmy Carter’s mother, a registered nurse, treated Black patients, subtly challenging norms.
2. **Jimmy Carter: Naval Academy and Military Service**
Jimmy Carter dreamed of the sea and enrolled at the U.S. Naval Academy in 1943 after Georgia Southwestern and Georgia Tech. Jimmy Carter graduated 60th in a class of 821 in 1946, specializing in electronics. Jimmy Carter married Rosalynn Smith, his sister’s friend, on July 7, 1946, in Plains. Jimmy Carter served on battleships USS Wyoming and Mississippi before joining the submarine service. Under Captain Hyman Rickover, Jimmy Carter worked on the nuclear submarine program, rising to lieutenant. In 1953, Jimmy Carter resigned after his father’s death to save the family farm from debt, returning to Plains against Rosalynn’s initial wishes.
3. **Jimmy Carter: Peanut Business and Community Leadership**
Jimmy Carter expanded Carter’s Warehouse into a multimillion-dollar agribusiness, introducing irrigation and modern storage. Jimmy Carter served on the Sumter County school board, pushing consolidation to improve education. Jimmy Carter entered politics in 1962, winning a Georgia State Senate seat after contesting fraudulent ballots in Quitman County. Jimmy Carter served two terms (1963–1967), championing education reform and mental health. In 1966, Jimmy Carter ran for governor but lost the Democratic primary to Lester Maddox, a segregationist. Jimmy Carter used the setback to deepen his faith through a “born-again” experience.
4. **Jimmy Carter: Governorship of Georgia (1971–1975)**
Jimmy Carter won the 1970 gubernatorial election, defeating former governor Carl Sanders. Inaugurated in 1971, Jimmy Carter declared in his speech, “The time for racial discrimination is over,” hanging portraits of Martin Luther King Jr. and other Black leaders in the capitol. Jimmy Carter reorganized state government, reducing agencies from 300 to 22. Jimmy Carter appointed record numbers of women and minorities to judgeships and boards. Jimmy Carter zero-based budgeting improved efficiency. Nationally, Jimmy Carter gained attention for progressive Southern leadership, positioning him for a presidential run.
5. **Jimmy Carter: The 1976 Presidential Campaign**
Jimmy Carter announced his candidacy in 1974 as a Washington outsider post-Watergate. Jimmy Carter’s slogan, “I’ll never lie to you,” resonated amid distrust. Jimmy Carter won the Iowa caucus and New Hampshire primary, surging past better-known Democrats. Jimmy Carter secured the nomination at the 1976 convention, choosing Walter Mondale as running mate. Facing incumbent Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter led in polls but stumbled in a Playboy interview discussing lust. Jimmy Carter won narrowly: 297 to 240 electoral votes, 50.1% popular vote. Jimmy Carter carried the South and restored Democratic control.
6. **Jimmy Carter: Domestic Policies and Energy Crisis**
Inaugurated on January 20, 1977, Jimmy Carter walked the parade route, symbolizing approachability. Jimmy Carter created the Department of Energy and Department of Education. Jimmy Carter deregulated airlines, trucking, and railroads, promoting competition. Facing stagflation, Jimmy Carter appointed Paul Volcker to the Fed to combat inflation. In 1979, Jimmy Carter delivered the “malaise” speech (though never using the word), urging energy conservation. Jimmy Carter installed solar panels on the White House and signed the Alaska Lands Act, protecting 104 million acres.
7. **Jimmy Carter: Foreign Policy Triumphs and Challenges**
Jimmy Carter brokered the Camp David Accords in 1978, leading to the 1979 Egypt-Israel peace treaty—his signature achievement. Jimmy Carter normalized relations with China in 1979. Jimmy Carter signed the SALT II treaty with Brezhnev, though the Senate never ratified it. The 1979 Iranian Revolution toppled the Shah; hostages were seized at the U.S. Embassy in Tehran on November 4. Jimmy Carter’s 444-day crisis dominated his term. A failed rescue mission in April 1980 killed eight servicemen. Jimmy Carter boycotted the 1980 Moscow Olympics after the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.
8. **Jimmy Carter: 1980 Election Defeat**
Jimmy Carter faced a primary challenge from Ted Kennedy and high inflation (13.5%) and unemployment. Ronald Reagan’s question, “Are you better off than four years ago?” struck deep. The October debate boosted Reagan; hostages remained captive. Jimmy Carter lost 44 states, winning 49 electoral votes to Reagan’s 489. Jimmy Carter conceded early on election night. On January 20, 1981—his last day in office—Jimmy Carter secured the hostages’ release after 444 days through Algerian mediation. Jimmy Carter left Washington quietly, returning to Plains.
9. **Jimmy Carter: Post-Presidency and Global Humanitarian Work**
Jimmy Carter founded the Carter Center in 1982 with Rosalynn to advance peace and health. Jimmy Carter monitored over 100 elections in 39 countries, legitimizing democracies in Nicaragua, Haiti, and Liberia. Through Habitat for Humanity, Jimmy Carter built homes annually into his 90s. Jimmy Carter’s Guinea worm eradication program reduced cases from 3.5 million in 1986 to under 15 by 2025. Jimmy Carter taught Sunday school at Maranatha Baptist Church, drawing thousands. Jimmy Carter wrote over 30 books, including *Keeping Faith* and *A Full Life*.
10. **Jimmy Carter: Legacy, Health Battles, and Living Legend**
Jimmy Carter won the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize for “decades of untiring effort to find peaceful solutions.” Critics fault Jimmy Carter for economic woes and perceived weakness abroad; supporters praise human rights focus and post-presidential impact. In 2015, Jimmy Carter announced melanoma had spread to his brain but declared himself cancer-free in 2016. Rosalynn died on November 19, 2023; Jimmy Carter entered hospice in February 2023. As of October 29, 2025, Jimmy Carter, at 101, is the longest-lived president, surpassing George H. W. Bush. Jimmy Carter’s Plains home, boyhood farm, and presidential library remain national sites. Jimmy Carter’s life—from peanut farmer to peacemaker—embodies service, faith, and the belief that one person can change the world.
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