1924–2024
Who Was Jimmy Carter?
Jimmy Carter was the 39ththThe President of the United States who acted as the country’s top leader from 1977 to 1981, a period marked by significant challenges both domestically and internationally. Carter’s handling of these matters was seen as inadequate, which contributed to his loss in the election for a second term. After leaving office, he focused on international relations and activism, establishing The Carter Center in 1982 alongside his late wife.Rosalynn. For these endeavors, he wasreceived the Nobel Peace Prizein 2002, Carter authored over 30 books, the latest of which wasFaith: A Path for Everyone. The president who lived the longest in American history, he passed away at the age of 100 in December 2024.
Quick Facts
FULL NAME: James Earl Carter Jr.
BORN: October 1, 1924
DIED: December 29, 2024
BIRTH CITY: Plains, Georgia
SPOUSE: Rosalynn Carter (1946–2023)
KIDS: John, James, Donnel, and Amy
ASTROLOGICAL SIGN: Libra
Childhood: Relatives and Learning
James Earl Carter Jr. was born on October 1, 1924, in Plains, Georgia. His father, James Sr., was known as Earl and worked diligently as a peanut farmer, owning a small piece of land along with a warehouse and store. His mother, Bessie Lillian Gordy Carter, was also referred to by her middle name. Lillian was a registered nurse who, during the 1920s, bridged racial barriers by offering medical advice to Black women. As the eldest of four children—two daughters and a son—Jimmy was part of a family that has since lost all of its members.
At the age of four, Carter’s family moved to Archery, a town roughly two miles away from Plains. This was a lightly populated and very rural area, where mule-pulled wagons were the main way to travel, and electricity and indoor bathrooms were not common. Carter was a dedicated student who stayed out of trouble and started working at his father’s store when he was ten years old. His favorite activity as a child was spending evenings with his father, listening to baseball games and political discussions on a radio powered by batteries.
Both of Carter’s parents were very devout, a trait they instilled in their son. They were members of the Plains Baptist Church and required Carter to go to Sunday school, which his father sometimes led. Carter went to the all-white Plains High School while the majority of the area’s Black residents received their education at home or through church. Even with this widespread segregation, two of Carter’s closest childhood friends were Black, as were two of the most significant adults in his life: his nanny, Annie Mae Hollis, and his father’s worker, Jack Clark.
Although the Great Depression severely affected much of the rural South, the Carters experienced success during this period, and by the late 1930s, his father had more than 200 employees working on his farms. In 1941, Carter was the first member of his father’s side of the family to complete high school.
Carter pursued engineering at Georgia Southwestern Junior College and later enrolled in the Naval ROTC program to further his studies at the Georgia Institute of Technology. He then sought admission to the prestigious Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, which accepted him to start his education in the summer of 1943. Due to his thoughtful, quiet nature and his modest height—Carter was just 5 feet 9 inches tall—he struggled to fit in with his classmates.
However, Carter remained outstanding in his studies, earning a place in the top 10 percent of his class in 1946. During summer breaks, Carter rekindled his relationship with a girl named Rosalynn Smith, someone he had known since childhood. They got married in July 1946.
Naval Officer Who Became a Peanut Grower
The Navy assigned Carter to work with submarines, and during the early years of their marriage, the Carters—similar to many military families—were constantly on the move. Following a training program in Norfolk, Virginia, they relocated to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, where Carter served as an electronics officer aboard the USS Pomfret. Later posts relocated the family to Groton, Connecticut; San Diego; and Washington.
In 1952, Carter was assigned to collaborate with Admiral Hyman Rickover on the development of a nuclear submarine program in Schenectady, New York. The talented and highly demanding admiral left a deep impact on Carter. “I believe, aside from my own father, Rickover influenced my life more than anyone else,” he later remarked. Two interview questions posed by Rickover inspired the title of the future president’s first book,Why Not the Best? (1975).
In July 1953, Carter’s father died due to pancreatic cancer, leading to chaos in the farm and family business. Despite Rosalynn’s initial resistance, Carter relocated his family back to rural Georgia to look after his mother and manage the family’s affairs. While in Georgia, Carter revived the family farm and got involved in local politics, securing a position on the Sumter County Board of Education in 1955 and later becoming its leader.
Achievements during service in Georgia politics
The 1950s marked a time of significant transformation in the American South. In the pivotal 1954 caseBrown v. Board of Education, the United States Supreme Courtunanimously mandated the integration of public schools, and following that ruling,civil rights protestorsvigorously called for an end to every type of racial discrimination. Nevertheless, politics in the rural South continued to mirror the conservative racial views of the “Old South.” Carter was the only white individual in Plains who refused to become part of a segregationist organization known as the White Citizens’ Council, and soon after, he discovered a sign on his front door that stated: “Coons and Carters go together.”
It wasn’t until the 1962 Supreme Court decision inBaker v. Carr, which required that voting districts be redrawn in a manner that no longer favored rural white voters, presented Carter with a chance to become a “new Southerner,” as he viewed himself, and secure a political position. That same year, he ran for the Georgia State Senate against a local businessman named Homer Moore. Although the initial results indicated that Moore had won, it was clear that his victory stemmed from extensive fraud. In one area, 420 ballots were counted despite only 333 being issued. Carter challenged the result, and a Georgia judge invalidated the fraudulent votes, declaring Carter the victor. As a two-term state senator, Carter built a reputation as a strong and independent politician, reducing unnecessary spending and consistently supporting civil rights.
In 1966, following a short consideration of a bid for the United States House of Representatives, Carter chose to seek the governorship instead. Nevertheless, during a period of white resistance to the Civil Rights Movement, Carter’s progressive campaign struggled to gain traction in the Democratic primaries, resulting in him placing third. The final victor was Lester Maddox, a staunch segregationist who became notorious for blocking the entrance of his restaurant and using an axe to prevent Black patrons from entering.
Governors in Georgia were restricted to a single term by state law, which prompted Carter to start planning for the 1970 gubernatorial race right away. This time, Carter focused his campaign on white rural voters who had previously rejected him as being too progressive in 1966. He openly opposed busing as a means of school integration, reduced public engagements with Black leaders, and actively sought support from prominent segregationists, such as Governor Maddox. He completely shifted his stance on civil rights, which left liberals stunned.Atlanta Constitution Journalreferred to him as an “ignorant, racist, outdated, ultra-conservative, rural Georgia peanut farmer.” Despite this, the approach was successful, and in 1970, Carter beat Carl Sanders to become Georgia’s governor.
After being elected governor, Carter mostly went back to the progressive ideals he had supported earlier in his professional life. He openly advocated for an end to segregation, boosted the number of Black officials in state government by 25 percent, and supported improvements in education and prison systems. Carter’s most notable achievement as governor was reducing and simplifying the massive state bureaucracy into a more efficient and effective system. Nevertheless, Carter displayed little interest in the formalities of political etiquette and managed to alienate several long-standing Democratic supporters, with whom he could have collaborated more closely.
1976 Presidential Campaign
Always looking ahead, Carter closely watched the national political trends of the 1970s. Following the defeat of liberal candidate George McGovern by the RepublicanRichard Nixonin the 1972 presidential race, Carter believed the Democrats required a moderate candidate to win back the presidency in 1976. When theWatergate scandalundermined American trust in Washington politics, Carter also believed that the next president should be an outsider. He felt he met both criteria.
Carter was among the 10 contenders vying for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1976, and initially, he was likely the least recognized. Nevertheless, during a period of significant discontent with established politicians, his lack of fame became a benefit. He ran on center-left issues such as cutting down on government waste, balancing the budget, and expanding government support for those in need.
The core of Carter’s campaign was his image as an outsider and his honesty. “I will never tell a lie,” Carter famously stated. “I will never shy away from a difficult issue.” One of his concise campaign mottos was “A Leader, For a Change.” These ideas resonated with voters who felt let down by their own government during the Watergate scandal.
Carter obtained the Democratic nomination to run against the Republican sitting officialGerald Ford, Nixon’s former vice president who became president after Nixon resigned following the Watergate scandal. Although Carter started the race with a double-digit lead over the unimpressive Ford, he made several mistakes that reduced his advantage. Most notably, in an interview withPlayboy, Carter confessed to committing adultery “in his heart” and made a number of careless comments regarding sex and infidelity that distanced many voters. Despite the election being much tighter than initially anticipated, Carter still emerged victorious, becoming the 39th president of the United States of America.
Presidency
Carter took office in 1977 during a period of significant hope, starting with extremely high public approval. Representing his dedication to a different style of leadership, after his inaugural speech, Carter left his limousine and walked to the White House among his supporters.
Carter’s primary focus on domestic issues centered around energy policy. As oil prices increased, and following the 1973 oil embargo, Carter felt it was crucial to eliminate the United States’ reliance on foreign oil. While Carter managed to reduce foreign oil usage by 8 percent and establish significant emergency reserves of oil and natural gas, the Iranian Revolution in 1979 caused oil prices to rise again, resulting in long lines at gas stations, which overshadowed Carter’s accomplishments.
Camp David Accords
Carter’s international approach focused on making human rights a key priority in the United States’ interactions with other nations. He halted financial and military support to Chile, El Salvador, and Nicaragua due to the violations of human rights by their governments. However, Carter’s most significant foreign policy success was his effective role in facilitating the 1978 Camp David Accords between Israel and Egypt, resulting in a landmark peace agreement where Israel withdrew from the Sinai Peninsula, and both countries formally acknowledged each other’s governments.
Although there were significant accomplishments, Carter’s presidency was generally seen as a failure. He had difficult relations with Congress and the media, which limited his ability to pass laws or clearly convey his policies. In 1979, Carter gave a poorly received speech, known as the “Crisis of Confidence” address, where he appeared to attribute America’s issues to the lack of spirit among its citizens.
Several foreign policy mistakes also played a role in Carter’s declining control of the presidency. His covert talks to transfer the Panama Canal to Panama caused many to view him as a weak leader who had “given up” the canal without ensuring proper measures for protecting American interests.
Iran Hostage Crisis
One of the main reasons for Carter’s decreasing political success was the Iranian Hostage Crisis. In November 1979, extremist Iranian students took over the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, capturing 66 Americans. Carter’s inability to secure the release of the hostages, along with a poorly executed rescue attempt, made him appear as a weak leader who had been outsmarted by a group of radical students. The captives remained held for 444 days until they were finally freed on the day Carter left office in 1981.
Ronald Reagan, the former actor and governor of California, contested Carter for the presidency in 1980. Reagan conducted a polished and successful campaign, posing to voters, “Are you in a better position than you were four years prior?” Many were not; Reagan defeated Carter in the 1980 election, which essentially served as a vote on a disappointing administration. As theNew York Times put it, “On Election Day, Mr. Carter was the topic.”
Humanitarian Efforts by The Carter Center
Although his single term in office was mostly unsuccessful, Carter managed to restore his image later on through his charitable work after leaving the presidency. He is now generally regarded as one of the most respected former presidents in American history.
He collaborated extensively with Habitat for Humanity and establishedThe Carter Centerin 1982, to advance human rights and reduce hardship worldwide. Specifically, Carter and his non-profit organization established community-focused healthcare systems in Africa and Latin America,oversaw 125 electionsin emerging democracies as of August 2024, and worked towards promoting peace in the Middle East. The Center’s Guinea Worm Eradication Program has contributed to almost eliminating the parasitic disease in humans. According to the nonprofit, there were approximately 3.5 million cases in Africa and Asia in 1986 compared to just13 temporary cases globally in 2022.
In 2002, Carter was awarded the Nobel Peace PrizeFor his many years of relentless effort in seeking peaceful resolutions to international disputes, promoting democracy and human rights, and encouraging economic and social progress.” During his Nobel Lecture in 2002, Carter ended with statements that reflect both his life’s purpose and a message for upcoming generations. “The connection of our shared humanity is greater than the divisions caused by our fears and biases,” he stated. “God grants us the ability to make choices. We can decide to reduce suffering. We can choose to collaborate for peace. We can bring about these changes—and we must.
Due to his continuous efforts prior to and following his time in the presidency, Carter is regarded as one of the country’s most notable advocates for equality, human rights, and the reduction of human hardship.
Wife and Children
Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter’s marriage lasted over 77 years—more than any other presidential couple in history—and they marked their last anniversary together in July 2023. Rosalynn, who was living with dementia, passed away later that year on November 19, just a few days after being admitted to hospice.
Similar to her husband, Rosalynn also spent her childhood in Plains, Georgia. They were introduced as kids; Jimmy’s mother, Lillian, was among the nurses who assisted with Rosalynn’s birth in 1927, and she later visited her son to check on the newborn and her mother a few days after Rosalynn was born.
Growing up together, Jimmy and Rosalynn reunited when he was away from college. A relationship soon developed. They got married on July 7, 1946.
While Carter was serving in the military, the couple had three sons: John William, born in 1947 and referred to as Jack; James Earl Carter III, born in 1950 and called Chip; and Donnel Jeffrey, born in 1952 and known as Jeff. Later, they welcomed a daughter, Amy, who was born in 1967. As a young child when her father became president, Amy lived somewhat under the national spotlight, unlike her brothers.
Jimmy also had 11 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. In 2015, Jeremy, the 28-year-old grandson of the Carters (from their son Jeff), passed away due to a heart attack.
Books and Hobbies
A highly productive writer, Carter wrote 32 books, with only one not published after his presidency. He authored several memoirs, includingA Life Fully Lived: Reflections at Age Ninety(2015); nonfiction pieces focused on specific topics such asPalestine Peace Not Apartheid (2006) and A Plea for Action: Women, Faith, Hostility, and Authority(2014); a collection of poetry,Always a Reckoning, and Other Poems(1995); and a historical fiction book,The Hornet’s Nest (2003), about the Revolutionary War. His daughter, Amy, created the illustrations for his children’s book,The Little Baby Snoogle-Fleejer(1996), which Carter developed from a story he often shared with his children. His final book,Faith: A Path for Everyonewas released in 2018 and discusses the significance of spirituality in his personal life and its impact on American history. Some of these works, presented as audiobooks, garnered Carter four Grammy Awards and six more nominations.
A committed Christian, Carter was brought up in the Southern Baptist tradition, althoughHe departed from the Southern Baptist Convention in 2000 after objecting to the denomination’s positionsThat women should not serve as pastors and wives should obey their husbands. He and Rosalynn were members of Plains’ Maranatha Baptist Church, which they joined in 1981 and where both held the position of deacons. A prominent Sunday school instructor, Carter started teaching Bible classes while at the Naval Academy and maintained this role throughout his life. For many years, numerous individuals from across the nation attended his Sunday school sessions at Maranatha, but he ceased teaching in late 2019.
Carter possessed a variety of interests, such as fly-fishing, woodworking,painting, and supporting the Atlanta Braves baseball team. He was anserious runner until the age of 80 and a third-generation winemaker. In a 2017 interview with Oprah Winfrey, the former president stated that he and his wife set out to discover new interests they could appreciate as a couple. This prompted them to take up downhill skiing when Carter was 62 and Rosalynn was 59.
Health Challenges
On August 12, 2015, Carter had an operation to extract a growth from his liver. Eight days afterward,the 90-year-old announcedHe was found to have cancer that had metastasized to different areas of his body. On August 20,Carter conducted a press briefing Carter hosted a media event Carter addressed the press corps Carter gave a public statement Carter held a press conference Carter made an announcement to journalists Carter spoke to the news media Carter convened a press meetingin which he mentioned that doctors had discovered four “very tiny spots” of melanoma on his brain. Following a treatment plan that involved targeted radiation, the former president declaredhe was cancer-freeduring one of his Sunday school classes in early December 2015.
On March 21, 2019, Carter reached the age of 94 years and 172 days, becoming the longest-lived U.S. president, breaking the previous record set byGeorge H.W. Bush. That year also introduced additional health difficulties. In May,Carter broke his hipduring a fall and underwent hip replacement surgery. In October,two more falls resultedlaughing uncontrollably above his eye then a “minor” pelvic fracture. Carter alsohad surgery that Novemberto ease the pressure on his brain resulting from bleeding due to the falls.
Hospice and Death
Jimmy Carter passed away at the age of 100 on December 29, 2024, at his residence in Plains, Georgia.
Carter was in hospicefor an exceptionally extended period. At the age of 98, he started getting end-of-life support at his residence on February 18, 2023, “following several brief hospital visits.” His grandson Jason Carter later sharedThe New York Timesit was anticipated that the former president would survive only five days to a week following that statement. Nevertheless, Jimmy surpassed expectations and lived for another 23 months.
Six days of remembrance events for Carter started on January 4, 2025. He was honored with state and national funerals in Georgia and Washington D.C., with his remains displayed in the Capitol Rotunda for over a day. PresidentJoe Biden, who gave a eulogy for Carter at the national funeral, announced January 9 as a National Day of Mourning. The former president and humanitarian was later buried at his former home in Georgia, alongside his late wife, Rosalynn.
In October 2025, the United States Postal Service plans to issue a special Forever stamp in memory of the late president. The stamp will showcase a 1982 photograph of Carter created by artist Herbert E. Abrams, who also painted Carter’s official portrait for the White House.
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