Jimmy Carter is one of the most popular Presidents in American history. After serving as governor of Georgia for two terms, he ascended to the White House upon the resignation of President Gerald Ford. His presidency was marked by a general optimism about America’s future and a policy of decolonization or removing the country from its foreign wars.
It also saw an improvement in US-Soviet relations, culminating in the 1979 Camp David Accords and the signing of the SALT II Treaty in Vienna. These achievements have led to Jimmy Carter becoming widely revered by Americans today. Here are some interesting facts about this beloved former president:
1) Carter is a native Georgian.
Carter was born in the village of Plains, Georgia, to James Earl and Lillian (née Carter) Carter. Both of his parents were born in Georgia. After James Earl Carter’s service in the Georgia state legislature ended with his election to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1946, the Carters moved to Plains, where they would remain for nearly 20 years.
Carter was a student at the original Wheat Street School from first to eighth grade, and he went on to attend the Plains High School. He was a Navy JR-5 officer’s son and was interested in pre-Law studies. He met Rosalynn Smith at the Plains High School homecoming dance in 1943, and they were married in July 1946 after Carter turned 18.
2) Carter was a naval officer for 4 years.
After his father’s election to the House of Representatives in 1946, Carter attended the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. He did not complete his four years of service, however, leaving the academy in June only to return a month later.
In his own words, Carter said that he “did not have the mental capacity or the physical capability to handle a submarine at that time in my life.” Upon returning to Georgia, Carter enlisted in the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) program at the University of Georgia.
He graduated with a degree in political science in June 1949, and he entered active duty with the Navy. He would remain in the Navy for four years, leaving in September 1954 with the rank of lieutenant junior grade (j.g.).
3) Carter was a peanut farmer at the age of 22.
He worked as a peanut farmer for a brief period in Georgia, and he even made a promotional film with Jimmy Carter Snacks, Inc. It was during his time as a peanut farmer that Carter first came across the idea that he would like to enter politics.
He later said that he believed it was his time in the peanut fields that prompted him to begin his political career. His time on the farm may have also been a factor in his decision to become a navy officer. Carter said that he thought it was “a good idea to apply to the Navy because they have plantations in the Pacific.”
4) Carter became a peanut farmer at the age of 22.
Carter would later say that he never regretted choosing to become a peanut farmer, even though it did not bring him much money. He was also able to spend time with his wife and two daughters, Amy and Ruth. Carter became a member of the United States Navy Reserve after graduating from the University of Georgia with a degree in Political Science in 1949.
He was later commissioned as an ensign in the Navy during the Korean War. Carter would serve with the rank of lieutenant j.g. In the navy, one of his duties was to run the naval base at Port Royal, South Carolina, and he was stationed at the naval air station at Kingsville, Texas. He would spend the first ten years of his naval service stationed at Ponce Inlet, Florida, where he was responsible for maintaining the base and the surrounding area.
5) Carter held several public offices before becoming President of the United States.
Carter was first elected to the Georgia state senate in 1962, where he served until 1966. He was elected governor of Georgia in 1971, serving until 1975. He also served as a reserve officer in the United States Navy Reserve after he left office as governor.
Carter’s campaign for president had him traveling the nation to speak with the American public. He spoke to the American people on issues such as the war in Vietnam, economic issues, and the modern environment. Carter also spoke to the people of the nation about the importance of voting in the upcoming election. During this time, Carter also began to create a campaign team that would help him become president of the United States.
6) Carter brought honor to his office when he left office in 1981.
During his term as president, Carter signed many treaties with foreign countries such as the Panama Canal Treaties, the Camp David Accords, and the SALT II Treaty with the Soviet Union. He also signed the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Reorganization Act.
Despite these accomplishments, it was the Camp David Accords with Israel that Carter was most proud of. He said that “there wasn’t a single person in the world who regarded Israel as stronger, as more secure, as more powerful than it was when I signed the Camp David Accords.”
Carter’s time as president was not without its flaws, however. His foreign policy failures, including his decision to allow the crew of the Iranian vessel the “Aftab” to be held in an American prison, led to his defeat in the 1980 election against Ronald Reagan.
7) The former president’s notable accomplishments whilst in office included:
– Camp David Accords with Egypt and Israel – William W. Pollack, author of The Just War Paradigm, described the peace treaty as “Carter’s crowning achievement as president.”
– SALT II Treaty with the Soviet Union – While Carter was in office, the United States and the Soviet Union signed the SALT II Treaty. SALT stands for Strategic Arms Limitation Talks. This treaty limited the number of intercontinental ballistic missiles that the two countries could build.
8) Jimmy Carter had no notable scandals during his Presidency.
During his Presidency, Carter had no scandals or illegal activities linked to him. Many people believed that Carter would run for a second term, but he decided against doing so.
After Carter left the presidency, he kept a low profile, only making occasional public appearances. He had been planning a book based on his experiences in the White House, but he postponed the project after his defeat in 1980. Jimmy Carter died on July 1, 2015, at the age of 90.
