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Jimmy Carter

Jimmy Carter, in full James Earl Carter, Jr. TABLE OF CONTENTS (born October 1, 1924, Introduction Plains, Georgia, U.S.), 39th president of the Early life and political career United States (1977–81), Presidency who served as the Life after the presidency nation’s chief executive Cabinet of Pres. Jimmy Carter Jimmy Carter. during a time of serious Courtesy: Jimmy Carter Library problems at home and abroad. His perceived inability to deal successfully with those problems led to an overwhelming defeat in his bid for reelection. After leaving of�ce, he embarked on a career of diplomacy and advocacy, for which he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace in 2002. (For a Key events in the life of Jimmy Carter. discussion of the history and nature of the presidency, see Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. presidency of the United States of America.)

EARLY LIFE AND POLITICAL CAREER

The son of Earl Carter, a peanut warehouser who had served in the Georgia state legislature, and , a registered nurse who went to India as a Peace Corps volunteer at age 68, Carter attended Georgia Southwestern College and the Georgia Institute of Jimmy Carter with the Nobel Peace Prize he Technology before graduating from the U.S. Naval was awarded in 2002. Academy at Annapolis, Maryland, in 1946. After marrying The Rosalynn Smith ()—who came from Carter’s small hometown, Plains, Georgia—he embarked on a seven-year career in the U.S. Navy, serving submarine duty for �ve years. He was preparing to become an engineering of�cer for the submarine Seawolf in 1953 when his father died. Carter resigned his commission and returned to Georgia to manage the family peanut farm operations.

https://www.britannica.com/print/article/97239 1/10 10/4/2017 Jimmy Carter -- Britannica Online Encyclopedia Jimmy Carter as a boy sitting atop a Beginning his political career by serving on the local Shetland pony on his family’s farm near board of education, Carter won election as a Democrat to Plains, Georgia, U.S. the Georgia State Senate in 1962 and was reelected in Jimmy Carter Library 1964. In 1966 he failed in a bid for the governorship and, depressed by this experience, found solace in evangelical Christianity, becoming a born-again Baptist. Prior to running again for governor and winning in 1970, Carter at least tacitly adhered to a segregationist approach. However, in his inaugural address he announced that “the time for racial discrimination is over” and proceeded to open Georgia’s government of�ces to blacks—and to women. As governor, he reorganized the existing maze of state agencies and consolidated them into larger units while introducing stricter budgeting procedures for them. In the process he came to national attention, �nding his way onto the cover of Time magazine as a symbol of both good government and the “New South.”

In 1974, just before his term as governor ended, Carter Jimmy Carter and Rosalynn Smith on their announced his candidacy for the Democratic nomination wedding day, July 7, 1946. for president. Although lacking a national political base or Jimmy Carter Library major backing, he managed through tireless and systematic campaigning to assemble a broad constituency. In the aftermath of the Watergate Scandal, which had raised widespread concern about the power of the presidency and the integrity of the executive branch, Carter styled himself as an outsider to Washington, D.C., a man of strong principles who could restore the faith of the American people in their leaders. Ironically, Carter’s moral stance and candour caused a small stir when, during the campaign, he admitted in an interview with Jimmy Carter (centre, standing) aboard a U.S. Navy submarine. Playboy magazine that he had “committed adultery in [his] heart many times.” Jimmy Carter Library Winning the Democratic nomination in July 1976, Carter chose the liberal Sen. Walter F. Mondale of Minnesota as his running mate. Carter’s opponent was the unelected incumbent Republican president, Gerald R. Ford, who had come into of�ce in 1974 when Richard Nixon resigned in the wake of Watergate. Many believed that the close race tipped in Carter’s favour after Ford stumbled in a televised debate by saying that eastern Europe was not dominated by the Soviet Union. In November 1976 the Carter-Mondale ticket https://www.britannica.com/print/article/97239 2/10 10/4/2017 Jimmy Carter -- Britannica Online Encyclopedia 10/4/2017 Jimmy Carter -- Britannica Online Encyclopedia Jimmy Carter as a boy sitting atop a Beginning his political career by serving on the local won the election, capturing 51 percent of the popular vote Shetland pony on his family’s farm near board of education, Carter won election as a Democrat to and garnering 297 electoral votes to Ford’s 240. Plains, Georgia, U.S. the Georgia State Senate in 1962 and was reelected in Jimmy Carter Library 1964. In 1966 he failed in a bid for the governorship and, PRESIDENCY depressed by this experience, found solace in evangelical Beginning with his inaugural walk with Rosalynn down Christianity, becoming a born-again Baptist. Prior to Pennsylvania Avenue, Carter tried to reinforce his image running again for governor and winning in 1970, Carter at as a man of the people. He adopted an informal style of least tacitly adhered to a segregationist approach. dress and speech in public appearances, held frequent However, in his inaugural address he announced that “the press conferences, and reduced the pomp of the time for racial discrimination is over” and proceeded to presidency. Early on in his administration, Carter open Georgia’s government of�ces to blacks—and to introduced a dizzying array of ambitious programs for women. As governor, he reorganized the existing maze of social, administrative, and economic reform. Most of those state agencies and consolidated them into larger units programs, however, met with opposition in Congress while introducing stricter budgeting procedures for them. despite the Democratic majorities in both the House of In the process he came to national attention, �nding his Representatives and the Senate. On one hand, Congress, way onto the cover of Time magazine as a symbol of both Campaign poster for one of Jimmy Carter’s in the post-Watergate environment, was more willing to good government and the “New South.” successful runs for the Georgia State challenge the executive branch; on the other, Carter the Senate. In 1974, just before his term as governor ended, Carter populist was quick to criticize Congress and to take his Jimmy Carter Library Jimmy Carter and Rosalynn Smith on their announced his candidacy for the Democratic nomination agenda to the American people. In either case, Carter’s wedding day, July 7, 1946. for president. Although lacking a national political base or dif�culties with Congress undermined the success of his Jimmy Carter Library major backing, he managed through tireless and administration, and by 1978 his initial popularity had systematic campaigning to assemble a broad dissipated in the face of his inability to convert his ideas constituency. In the aftermath of the Watergate Scandal, into legislative realities. which had raised widespread concern about the power of Two scandals also damaged Carter’s credibility. In the presidency and the integrity of the executive branch, summer 1977 Bert Lance, the director of the Of�ce of Carter styled himself as an outsider to Washington, D.C., a Management and Budget and one of Carter’s closest man of strong principles who could restore the faith of friends, was accused of �nancial improprieties as a the American people in their leaders. Ironically, Carter’s Georgia banker. When Carter stood by Lance (whom he moral stance and candour caused a small stir when, eventually asked to resign and who later was acquitted of during the campaign, he admitted in an interview with Jimmy Carter (centre, standing) aboard a Button from Jimmy Carter’s 1976 all charges), many questioned the president’s vaunted Playboy magazine that he had “committed adultery in U.S. Navy submarine. presidential campaign. scruples. Carter’s image suffered again—though less—in [his] heart many times.” Jimmy Carter Library Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. summer 1980 when his younger brother, Billy (widely Winning the Democratic nomination in July 1976, Carter perceived as a buffoon), was accused of acting as an chose the liberal Sen. Walter F. Mondale of Minnesota as his running mate. Carter’s opponent in�uence peddler for the Libyan government of Muammar al-Qadda�. Senate investigators was the unelected incumbent Republican president, Gerald R. Ford, who had come into of�ce concluded that, while Billy had acted improperly, he had no real in�uence on the president. in 1974 when Richard Nixon resigned in the wake of Watergate. Many believed that the close In foreign affairs, Carter received accolades for championing international human rights, race tipped in Carter’s favour after Ford stumbled in a televised debate by saying that eastern though his critics charged that his vision of the world was naive. Carter’s idealism Europe was not dominated by the Soviet Union. In November 1976 the Carter-Mondale ticket notwithstanding, his major achievements were on the more pragmatic level of patient https://www.britannica.com/print/article/97239 2/10 https://www.britannica.com/print/article/97239 3/10 10/4/2017 Jimmy Carter -- Britannica Online Encyclopedia diplomacy. In 1977 he obtained two treaties between the United States and Panama that gave the latter control over the Panama Canal at the end of 1999 and guaranteed the neutrality of that waterway thereafter. In 1978 Carter brought together Egyptian Pres. Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin at the presidential retreat in Camp David, Maryland, and secured their agreement to the , which ended the state of war that had existed between the two countries since Israel’s founding in 1948. The dif�cult Button from Jimmy Carter’s 1976 negotiations—which lasted 13 days and were salvaged only presidential campaign. by Carter’s tenacious intervention—provided for the Americana/Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. establishment of full diplomatic and economic relations on condition that Israel return the occupied Sinai Peninsula to Egypt. On January 1, 1979, Carter established full diplomatic relations between the United States and China and simultaneously broke of�cial ties with Taiwan. Also in 1979, in Vienna, Carter and Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev signed a new bilateral strategic arms limitation treaty (SALT II) intended to establish parity in strategic nuclear weapons delivery systems between the two Results of the American presidential superpowers on terms that could be adequately veri�ed. election, 1976… Carter removed the treaty from consideration by the Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Senate in January 1980, however, after the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan. He also placed an embargo on the shipment of American grain to the Soviet Union and pressed for a U.S. boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympics due to be held in Moscow.

Carter’s substantial foreign policy successes were overshadowed by a serious crisis in foreign affairs and by a groundswell of popular discontent over his economic policies. On November 4, 1979, a mob of Iranian students Jimmy Carter (left) and U.S. President meeting in the first of three stormed the U.S. embassy in Tehrān and took the televised debates … diplomatic staff there hostage. Their actions, in response

AP to the arrival of the deposed shah (Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi) in the United States for medical treatment, were sanctioned by Iran’s revolutionary government, led by Shīʿite cleric Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. https://www.britannica.com/print/article/97239 4/10 10/4/2017 Jimmy Carter -- Britannica Online Encyclopedia 10/4/2017 Jimmy Carter -- Britannica Online Encyclopedia diplomacy. In 1977 he obtained two treaties between the A standoff developed between the United States and Iran United States and Panama that gave the latter control over the issue of the captive diplomats (see Iran hostage over the Panama Canal at the end of 1999 and crisis). Carter responded by trying to negotiate the guaranteed the neutrality of that waterway thereafter. In hostages’ release while avoiding a direct confrontation 1978 Carter brought together Egyptian Pres. Anwar Sadat with the Iranian government, but, as the crisis wore on and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin at the (documented nightly on American television by a special presidential retreat in Camp David, Maryland, and secured news program that would become the in�uential their agreement to the Camp David Accords, which President-elect Jimmy Carter with Rosalynn Nightline), his inability to obtain the release of the and Amy Carter on inauguration day, ended the state of war that had existed between the two hostages became a major political liability. The failure of a January 20, 1977. countries since Israel’s founding in 1948. The dif�cult secret U.S. military mission to rescue the hostages (which Thomas J. O’Halloran/Library of Congress, Button from Jimmy Carter’s 1976 negotiations—which lasted 13 days and were salvaged only ended almost before it began with a crash in the desert of Washington, D.C. (digital. id. ppmsca.09758) presidential campaign. by Carter’s tenacious intervention—provided for the a plane and helicopter) in April 1980 seemed to typify the Americana/Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. establishment of full diplomatic and economic relations inef�cacy and misfortune of the Carter administration. on condition that Israel return the occupied Sinai On the home front, Carter’s management of the economy Peninsula to Egypt. On January 1, 1979, Carter established aroused widespread concern. The in�ation rate climbed full diplomatic relations between the United States and higher each year he was in of�ce, rising from 6 percent in China and simultaneously broke of�cial ties with Taiwan. 1976 to more than 12 percent by 1980; unemployment Also in 1979, in Vienna, Carter and Soviet leader Leonid remained high at 7.5 percent; and volatile interest rates Brezhnev signed a new bilateral strategic arms limitation reached a high of 20 percent or more twice during 1980. treaty (SALT II) intended to establish parity in strategic Both business leaders and the public at large blamed nuclear weapons delivery systems between the two Jimmy Carter with his wife, Rosalynn (left), Carter for the nation’s economic woes, charging that the Results of the American presidential superpowers on terms that could be adequately veri�ed. and daughter, Amy, at the , president lacked a coherent strategy for taming in�ation election, 1976… Carter removed the treaty from consideration by the Washington, D.C. without causing a painful increase in unemployment. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Senate in January 1980, however, after the Soviet Union Jimmy Carter Library, Atlanta GA The faltering economy was due in part to the energy crisis invaded Afghanistan. He also placed an embargo on the that had originated in the early 1970s as a result of the shipment of American grain to the Soviet Union and country’s overdependence on foreign oil. In 1977 the pressed for a U.S. boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympics president, whose mistrust of special interest groups such due to be held in Moscow. as the oil companies was well known, proposed an energy Carter’s substantial foreign policy successes were program that included an oil tax, conservation, and the overshadowed by a serious crisis in foreign affairs and by a use of alternative sources of energy. The House supported groundswell of popular discontent over his economic the program but the Senate quashed it. Moreover, one of policies. On November 4, 1979, a mob of Iranian students Jimmy Carter (left) and U.S. President those alternative sources, nuclear power, seemed much U.S. Pres. Jimmy Carter holding a press Gerald Ford meeting in the first of three stormed the U.S. embassy in Tehrān and took the conference on January 17, 1979. less viable after the disastrous meltdown of the core televised debates … diplomatic staff there hostage. Their actions, in response reactor at Three Mile Island, Pennsylvania, in March 1979. Jimmy Carter Library AP to the arrival of the deposed shah (Mohammad Reza Shah In July 1979 Carter canceled a major policy speech and Pahlavi) in the United States for medical treatment, were instead met with a wide cross section of American leaders at Camp David. In the nationally sanctioned by Iran’s revolutionary government, led by Shīʿite cleric Ayatollah Ruhollah televised speech that followed that meeting, Carter spoke of a “crisis of spirit” in the country, Khomeini. but most Americans were ultimately no more interested in rising to the challenge of a national https://www.britannica.com/print/article/97239 4/10 https://www.britannica.com/print/article/97239 5/10 10/4/2017 Jimmy Carter -- Britannica Online Encyclopedia “malaise” than they were in Carter’s suggestion that they needed to lower some of their expectations. Still, Carter was able to fend off the challenge of Massachusetts Sen. Edward Kennedy to win the Democratic presidential nomination in 1980. However, the public’s con�dence in Carter’s executive abilities had fallen to an irretrievable

U.S. President Jimmy Carter (centre), Israeli low. Above all else, he was generally seen as indecisive. Prime Minister Menachem Begin (left), and In the election held that November, Carter was Egyptian … overwhelmingly defeated by the Republican nominee, a © Bettmann/Corbis former actor and governor of California, Ronald W. Reagan, who pointed to what he called Carter’s “misery index”—the in�ation rate plus the unemployment rate, whose sum was over 20—and asked two poignant questions that the public took to heart: “Are you better off than you were four years ago?” and “Is America as respected throughout the world?” In the landslide, Carter won only 41 percent of the popular vote and 49 votes in the electoral college (third-party candidate John U.S. Pres. Jimmy Carter (seated left) and Soviet General Secretary Leonid Brezhnev Anderson captured 7 percent of the vote). In the late signing the SALT … 1980s, allegations surfaced that the Reagan campaign

Bill Fitz-Patrick had made a secret agreement with the government of Iran to ensure that the hostages were not released before the election (thus preventing an “October Surprise” that might boost Carter’s election chances); however, in 1993 a congressional subcommittee found the evidence inconclusive. Reagan invited Carter to greet the hostages in Germany after their release on January 21, 1981, one day after Reagan’s inauguration.

U.S. Pres. Jimmy Carter speaking on the LIFE AFTER THE PRESIDENCY telephone in the , November 20, 1978. In his �nal months in of�ce, Carter was able to push

National Archives, Washington, D.C through important legislation that created Superfund to clean up abandoned toxic waste dumps and that set aside some 100 million acres (40 million hectares) of land in Alaska to protect it from development. Carter would also be remembered for his inclusion of women and minorities in his cabinet, including Andrew Young, the African American former mayor of Atlanta, who played a prominent though controversial role as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.

https://www.britannica.com/print/article/97239 6/10 10/4/2017 Jimmy Carter -- Britannica Online Encyclopedia 10/4/2017 Jimmy Carter -- Britannica Online Encyclopedia “malaise” than they were in Carter’s suggestion that they At the conclusion of the president’s term, the Carters needed to lower some of their expectations. Still, Carter returned to their hometown. Rosalynn, who had taken an was able to fend off the challenge of Massachusetts Sen. active role as �rst lady—not only acting as an adviser to the Edward Kennedy to win the Democratic presidential president but also attending cabinet meetings when the nomination in 1980. However, the public’s con�dence in subjects under consideration were of interest to her— Carter’s executive abilities had fallen to an irretrievable joined her husband in establishing the Carter Presidential

U.S. President Jimmy Carter (centre), Israeli low. Above all else, he was generally seen as indecisive. Center in Atlanta, which included a presidential library U.S. Pres. Jimmy Carter appearing on and museum. Prime Minister Menachem Begin (left), and In the election held that November, Carter was Egyptian … television from the White House during a overwhelmingly defeated by the Republican nominee, a fireside chat on the … Carter served as a sort of diplomat without portfolio in © Bettmann/Corbis former actor and governor of California, Ronald W. various con�icts in a number of countries—including Marion S. Trikosko/Library of Congress, Reagan, who pointed to what he called Carter’s “misery Washington, D.C. (digital. id. ppmsca.09787) Nicaragua (where he successfully promoted the return of index”—the in�ation rate plus the unemployment rate, the Miskito Indians to their homeland), Panama (where he whose sum was over 20—and asked two poignant observed and reported illegal voting procedures), and questions that the public took to heart: “Are you better off Ethiopia (where he attempted to mediate a settlement than you were four years ago?” and “Is America as with the Eritrean People’s Liberation Force). He was respected throughout the world?” In the landslide, Carter particularly active in this role in 1994, negotiating with won only 41 percent of the popular vote and 49 votes in North Korea to end nuclear weapons development there, the electoral college (third-party candidate John with Haiti to effect a peaceful transfer of power, and with U.S. Pres. Jimmy Carter (seated left) and Soviet General Secretary Leonid Brezhnev Anderson captured 7 percent of the vote). In the late Bosnian Serbs and Muslims to broker a short-lived cease- signing the SALT … 1980s, allegations surfaced that the Reagan campaign �re. His efforts on behalf of international peace and his Blindfolded American hostage with his Bill Fitz-Patrick had made a secret agreement with the government of Iranian captors outside the U.S. embassy in highly visible participation in building homes for the poor Iran to ensure that the hostages were not released before Tehrān, … through Habitat for Humanity established in the public the election (thus preventing an “October Surprise” that AP mind a much more favourable image of Carter than had might boost Carter’s election chances); however, in 1993 a been the case during his presidency. congressional subcommittee found the evidence After leaving of�ce, Carter also became a proli�c author, inconclusive. Reagan invited Carter to greet the hostages writing on a variety of topics. Two books on the Middle in Germany after their release on January 21, 1981, one day East were Palestine: Peace Not (2006) and We after Reagan’s inauguration. Can Have Peace in the Holy Land: A Plan That Will Work (2009). His interview with Syria’s Forward Magazine, U.S. Pres. Jimmy Carter speaking on the LIFE AFTER THE PRESIDENCY telephone in the Oval Office, November 20, published in January 2009, marked the �rst time that a 1978. In his �nal months in of�ce, Carter was able to push former or current U.S. president had been interviewed by U.S. Pres. Jimmy Carter showing reporters National Archives, Washington, D.C through important legislation that created Superfund to a Syrian media outlet. Carter was also the author of The the solar panels he had installed on the clean up abandoned toxic waste dumps and that set Hornet’s Nest: A Novel of the Revolutionary War (2003) West Wing of the … aside some 100 million acres (40 million hectares) of land in Alaska to protect it from and a collection of poetry. His presidency is chronicled in Jimmy Carter Library development. Carter would also be remembered for his inclusion of women and minorities in (2010), which contains edited entries his cabinet, including Andrew Young, the African American former mayor of Atlanta, who from a journal Carter kept during his years in the White played a prominent though controversial role as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. House. Carter re�ected on the lessons of aging and his long life in The Virtues of Aging (1998) and : Re�ections at Ninety (2015). https://www.britannica.com/print/article/97239 6/10 https://www.britannica.com/print/article/97239 7/10 10/4/2017 Jimmy Carter -- Britannica Online Encyclopedia CABINET OF PRES. JIMMY CARTER

The table provides a list of cabinet members in the administration of Pres. Jimmy Carter.

U.S. Pres. Jimmy Carter campaigning for reelection, October 30, 1980.

Jimmy Carter Library

Results of the American presidential election, 1980…

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

The Carter Center, Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.

The Georgia High Program https://www.britannica.com/print/article/97239 8/10 10/4/2017 Jimmy Carter -- Britannica Online Encyclopedia 10/4/2017 Jimmy Carter -- Britannica Online Encyclopedia CABINET OF PRES. JIMMY CARTER

The table provides a list of cabinet members in the administration of Pres. Jimmy Carter.

U.S. Pres. Jimmy Carter campaigning for reelection, October 30, 1980.

Jimmy Carter Library

Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter volunteering during the construction of a house in Los Angeles, 1995.

Nick Ut/AP Results of the American presidential election, 1980…

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

At Savelugu Hospital in the Northern Region of Ghana, former U.S. president Jimmy Carter and his … The Carter Center, Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. Louise Gubb/The Carter Center The Georgia High Program https://www.britannica.com/print/article/97239 8/10 https://www.britannica.com/print/article/97239 9/10 10/4/2017 Jimmy Carter -- Britannica Online Encyclopedia

Cabinet of President Jimmy Carter

January 20, 1977-January 20, 1981

State Cyrus Vance Edmund Sixtus Muskie (from May 8, 1980)

Treasury Werner Michael Blumenthal George William Miller (from August 6, 1979)

Defense Harold Brown

Attorney General Grif�n Boyette Bell Benjamin Richard Civiletti (from August 16, 1979)

Interior Cecil Dale Andrus

Agriculture Robert Selmer Bergland

Commerce Juanita Morris Kreps Philip Morris Klutznick (from January 9, 1980)

Labor Fred Ray Marshall

Health, Education, and Welfare* Joseph Anthony Califano, Jr. Patricia Roberts Harris (from August 3, 1979)

Health and Human Services* Patricia Roberts Harris (from September 27, 1979)

Housing and Urban Development Patricia Roberts Harris Moon Landrieu (from September 24, 1979)

Transportation Brockman Adams Neil Edward Goldschmidt (from September 24, 1979)

Energy** James Rodney Schlesinger (from October 1, 1977) Charles William Duncan, Jr. (from August 24, 1979)

Education* Shirley Mount Hufstedler (from December 6, 1979)

*Department of Health, Education, and Welfare reorganized into Departments of Health and Human Services and Education. **Newly created department.

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