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U.S Presidents — James Carter

OVERVIEW Name: James Carter President: # 39 Term Number(s): 48 Term Length: 4 Took Office: January 20, 1977 Left Office: January 20, 1981 Age when Elected: 52 Party: Democratic Also Known As: "Jimmy" BIOGRAPHIC INFORMATION Education: Georgia Southwestern College, Union College, United States Naval Academy Occupation: Farmer (peanuts), naval officer Other Governmental Position: 76th Governor of Georgia, Member of the Georgia State Senate from the 14th District. Military Service: Lieutenant, United States Navy Religion: Baptist Spouse(s): Rosalynn Smith Carter (July 7, 1946) Children: John William Carter, James Earl Carter III, Donnel Jeffrey Carter, Amy Lynn Carter Birthdate: October 1, 1924 Birthplace: Plains, Georgia Deathdate: Alive Deathplace: N/A Age at Death: Still living Cause of Death: Still living Place of Internment: N/A Signature FIRST ELECTION Election Year: 1976 Main Opponent: Gerald Ford Voter Participation: 53.60%   Electoral Popular States Click for larger image Winner 297 (55.20%) 40,831,881 (50.10%) 23+DC Main Opponent 240 (44.61%) 39,148,634 (48.00%) 27 total 538 81,531,584 51+DC CABINET AND COURT APPOINTMENTS Vice President: Walter Mondale Secretary of State: Cyrus Vance (1977–1980), Edmund Muskie (1980–1981) Secretary of the Treasury: W. Michael Blumenthal (1977–1979), G. William Miller (1979–1981) Secretary of Defense: Harold Brown (1977–1981) Secretary of the Interior: Cecil D. Andrus (1977–1981) Secretary of Agriculture: Robert Bergland (1977–1981) Secretary of Commerce: Juanita Kreps (1977–1979), Philip Klutznick (1979–1981) Secretary of Labor: F. Ray Marshall (1977–1981) Secretary of Health & Human Services: Patricia R. Harris (1980–1981) Secretary of Housing & Urban Development: Patricia R. Harris (1977–1979), Moon Landrieu (1979–1981) Secretary of Transportation: Brock Adams (1977–1979), Neil Goldschmidt (1979–1981) Attorney General: Griffin Bell (1977–1979), Benjamin Civiletti (1979–1981) Supreme Court Assignments: None PRESIDENT'S BIOGRAPHY Jimmy Carter aspired to make government "competent and compassionate," responsive to the American people and their expectations. His achievements were notable, but in an era of rising energy costs, mounting inflation, and continuing tensions, it was impossible for his administration to meet these high expectations. Carter, who has rarely used his full name—James Earl Carter, Jr.—was born October 1, 1924, in Plains, Georgia. Peanut farming, talk of politics, and devotion to the Baptist faith were mainstays of his upbringing. Upon graduation in 1946 from the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, Carter married Rosalynn Smith. The Carters have three sons, John William (Jack), James Earl III (Chip), Donnel Jeffrey (Jeff); and a daughter, Amy Lynn. After seven years' service as a naval officer, Carter returned to Plains. In 1962 he entered state politics, and eight years later he was elected governor of Georgia. Among the new young Southern governors, he attracted attention by emphasizing ecology, efficiency in government, and the removal of racial barriers. Carter announced his candidacy for president in December 1974 and began a two-year campaign that gradually gained momentum. At the Democratic Convention, he was nominated on the first ballot. He chose Senator Walter F. Mondale of Minnesota as his running mate. Carter campaigned hard against President Gerald R. Ford, debating with him three times. Carter won by 297 electoral votes to 241 for Ford. Carter worked hard to combat the continuing economic woes of inflation and unemployment. By the end of his administration, he could claim an increase of nearly eight million jobs and a decrease in the budget deficit, measured in percentage of the gross national product. Unfortunately, inflation and interest rates were at near record highs, and efforts to reduce them caused a short recession. Carter could point to a number of achievements in domestic affairs. He dealt with the energy shortage by establishing a national energy policy and by decontrolling domestic petroleum prices to stimulate production. He prompted government efficiency through civil service reform and proceeded with deregulation of the trucking and airline industries. He sought to improve the environment. His expansion of the national park system included protection of 103 million acres of Alaskan lands. To increase human and social services, he created the Department of Education, bolstered the Social Security system, and appointed record numbers of women, blacks, and Hispanics to government jobs. In foreign affairs, Carter set his own style. His championing of human rights was coldly received by the Soviet Union and some other nations. In the Middle East, through the Camp David agreement of 1978, he helped bring amity between Egypt and Israel. He succeeded in obtaining ratification of the Panama Canal treaties. Building upon the work of predecessors, he established full diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China and completed negotiation of the Salt II nuclear limitation treaty with the Soviet Union. There were serious setbacks, however. The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan caused the suspension of plans for ratification of the Salt II pact. The seizure as hostages of the U.S. embassy staff in Iran dominated the news during the last 14 months of the administration. The consequences of Iran's holding Americans captive, together with continuing inflation at home, contributed to Carter's defeat in 1980. Even then, he continued the difficult negotiations over the hostages. Iran finally released the 52 Americans the same day Carter left office. FIRST LADY'S BIOGRAPHY Rosalynn Smith Carter "She's the girl I want to marry," Jimmy Carter told his mother after his first date with 17-year-old Rosalynn Smith, who had grown up as a friend and neighbor of the Carter family in Plains, Georgia. Born in Plains on August 18, 1927, Rosalynn was the first of four children in the family of Allethea Murray Smith and Wilburn Edgar Smith. She grew up in a small-town atmosphere that nurtured strong ties to family and dedication to church and community. When she was 13, her father died and her mother became a dressmaker to help support the family. As the oldest child, Rosalynn worked beside her mother, helping with the sewing, the housekeeping, and the younger children. Times were difficult, but Rosalynn completed high school and enrolled in Georgia Southwestern College at Americus. In 1945, after her freshman year, she first dated Jimmy Carter, who was home from the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis. Their romance progressed, and in 1946 they were married. The young couple went to Norfolk, Virginia, Ensign Carter's first duty station after graduation. The Navy kept them on the move. Their sons were born in different places: John William in Virginia, James Earl III in Hawaii, and Donnel Jeffrey in Connecticut. The Carters' only daughter, Amy Lynn, was born in Georgia in 1967. When his father died in 1953, Jimmy left the service, and the Carters returned to Plains to run the family business. Managing the accounts of the peanut, fertilizer, and seed enterprise, Mrs. Carter soon found herself working full-time. Jimmy entered politics in 1962, winning a seat in the Georgia Senate. Rosalynn, an important member of his campaign team, helped develop support for her husband's successful bid for the governorship of Georgia in 1970. During his presidential campaigns, Mrs. Carter traveled independently throughout the United States. Her belief in her husband's ability to lead the nation was communicated in a quiet, friendly manner that made her an effective campaigner. A skillful speaker and a hardworking first lady, Mrs. Carter managed routine duties and special projects from her office in the East Wing. She attended cabinet meetings and major briefings, frequently represented the Chief Executive at ceremonial occasions, and served as the president's personal emissary to Latin American countries. As First Lady, Mrs. Carter focused national attention on the performing arts. She invited to the White House leading classical artists from around the world, as well as traditional American artists. She also took a strong interest in programs to aid mental health, the community, and the elderly. From 1977 to 1978, she served as the Honorary Chairperson of the President's Commission on Mental Health. After returning home, Mrs. Carter wrote her autobiography, First Lady from Plains, published in 1984. She is currently vice chair of The Carter Center in Atlanta, founded in 1982 to promote peace and human rights worldwide. At the center, she leads a program to diminish stigma against mental illness and to promote greater access to mental health care. She also is a partner with President Carter in projects to resolve conflict, promote human rights, improve global health, and build democracy in some 65 countries. MAJOR EVENTS 1977: Vietnam War era draft evaders are pardoned by President Carter. 1977: Panama Canal Treaty. U.S. hands over control of the Panama Canal to Panama. 1978: Camp David Accords. Peace is negotiated between Egypt and Israel. 1979: People's Republic of China officially recognized by the U.S. 1979: Three Mile Island incident. Partial meltdown of a nuclear power plant occurs. 1979–1980: Iran Hostage Crisis. 53 Americans are taken hostage in Iran for 444 days. TRIVIA 1. Jimmy Carter was a student of nuclear physics at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis. 2. Carter had the ability to read quickly. He was recorded reading 2,000 words per minute. 3. In 2002, Carter was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.