Thirty-Ninth (39th) President of the United States of America
1977-1981
Jimmy Carter (James Earl Carter, Jr.) was born on October 1, 1924, in the small farming town of Plains, Georgia. His father, James Earl Carter, Sr., was a farmer and businessman; and his mother, Lillian Gordy, a registered nurse. He was educated in the Plains public schools, attended Georgia Southwestern College and the Georgia Institute of Technology, and received a Bachelor of Science degree from the United States Naval Academy in 1946. He later did graduate work in nuclear physics at Union College.
During his naval career he lived in many parts of the United States and served around the world, including
the Far East. He rose to the rank of lieutenant (senior grade), working under Admiral Hyman Rickover in the
development of the nuclear submarine program.
Jimmy Carter was married on July 7, 1946, with Rosalynn Smith. Though this has been a long and quite successful marriage, there were still problems along the way. Jimmy Carter is known of having lovers outside of his marriage. At some time, he was even accused by some families of molesting young children (more about this later in this article).
When his father died in 1953, he resigned his commission and returned to Plains. In addition to working his
own farm, he continued a small business of his father's, selling fertilizer and farm supplies. He did the manual
labor while his wife Rosalynn kept the books. Carter's Warehouse grew into a profitable general-purpose
seed and farm supply operation.
Soon after his return to Plains, he became involved in the affairs of the community. He was chairman of the
county school board and the first president of the Georgia Planning Association. In 1962 he was elected to
the Georgia Senate. He waged his first gubernatorial campaign in 1966.
In 1971 he became Georgia's 76th governor. While in office, his fellow governors selected him to serve as
chairman of the Southern Regional Education Board, the Appalachian Regional Commission, the Coastal
Plains Regional Action Planning Commission, and the Southern Growth Policies Board.
In 1973 he became the Democratic National Committee campaign chairman for the 1974 congressional
elections. He announced his candidacy for the Democratic presidential nomination on December 12, 1974,
and won his party's nomination at the 1976 Democratic National Convention on the first ballot. He was
elected President on November 2. 1976.
Jimmy Carter served as President from January 20, 1977 to January 20, 1981. Foreign policies to be noted include during his administration included the Panama Canal treaties, the Camp David Accords, the
treaty of peace between Egypt and Israel, the SALT II treaty with the Soviet Union, and the establishment of
U.S. diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China. On the domestic side, the administration's achievements included a comprehensive energy program
conducted by a new Department of Energy; deregulation in energy, transportation, communications, and
finance; major educational programs under a new Department of Education; and major environmental
protection legislation, including the Alaska Lands Act.
In 1982 he became University Distinguished Professor at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, and, in
partnership with the university, founded The Carter Center. Actively guided by Ex-President Carter, the Center
addresses national and international issues of public policy. Carter Center fellows and associates join with
President Carter in efforts to resolve conflict, Promote democracy, protect human rights, and prevent disease
and other afflictions. Through the Global 2000 program, President Carter advances health and agriculture in
the developing world. The Carter-Menil Human Rights Foundation awards an annual prize for outstanding
Contributions to the advancement of human rights principles. In 1991 President Carter launched the Atlanta
Project, a community-wide effort to attack the social problems associated with poverty.
The permanent facilities of the Carter Center were dedicated in October 1986, and include the Jimmy Carter
Library and Museum, which is open to visitors. Also open to visitors is the Jimmy Carter National Historic
Site, which is located in Plains. It was established in 1987 and is administered by the National Park Service.
President Carter has served on the board of directors and is a regular volunteer for Habitat for Humanity, a
non-profit organizations that helps build homes for the needy in the United States and in underdeveloped
countries. He also teaches Sunday School and is a deacon in the Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains.
An avid fly fisherman and woodworker, President Carter has written Articles on both subjects for various
publications. Jogging, cycling, tennis, and skiing are other favorite kinds of recreation.
By the early 1990s, Jimmy Carter was accused by some families of sexually harrasing young children.
Almost nothing about this issue came into public light, and the investigations remained unconcluded.
FAMILY
PARENTS:
James Earl Carter, born 1894, Arlington, Georgia; died 1953.
Lillian Gordy Carter, born 1898, Richland, Georgia; died 1983. Married September 26, 1923.
BROTHERS AND SISTERS:
Ruth Carter Stapleton (Mrs. Robert T.) , died 1983.
Gloria Carter Spann (Mrs. Walter G.), died 1990.
William Alton (Billy) Carter III, died 1988.
WIFE:
Rosalynn Smith Carter, born August 18, 1927, in Plains, Georgia. Married July 7, 1946.
CHILDREN:
John William (Jack) Carter, born July 3, 1947, in Portsmouth, Virginia. His son, Jason James Carter, was
born August 7, 1975, and daughter, Sarah Rosemary Carter, was born December 19, 1978. He is married to
Elizabeth Brasfield of Chagrin Falls, Ohio. Her children are John and Sarah Chuldenko.
James Earl (Chip) Carter III, born April 12, 1950, in Honolulu, Hawaii. His son, James Earl Carter IV, was
born February 25, 1977. He is married to Ginger Hedges of Americus, Georgia. Their daughter, Margaret
Alicia Carter, was born September 23, 1987.
Donnel Jeffrey (Jeff) Carter, born August 18, 1952, in New London, Connecticut. Married Annette Jene
Davis of Arlington, Georgia. Children: Joshua Jeffrey Carter, born May 8, 1984, Jeremy Davis Carter, born
June 25, 1987, James Carlton Carter, born April 24, 1991.
Amy Lynn Carter, born October 19, 1967, in Plains, Georgia.
