What were the accomplishments of Jimmy Carter?
Background
Born Oct. 1, 1924 in Plains, Georgia Father – James Earl Carter Sr. was a
farmer and businessman Mother – Lillian Gordy Carter was a
nurse Graduated from Plains High School in
1942 Attended Georgia Southwestern
College and Georgia Tech Graduated in 1946 from U.S. Naval
Academy That same year, married Rosalynn
Smith
Naval Career
Served on submarines in both Atlantic and Pacific fleets
Chosen to work on nuclear subs, he did graduate work in reactor technology and nuclear physics
Was senior officer on the crew of the Seawolf, the second nuclear submarine
Return to Plains
Carter’s father died in 1953, and he resigned from the navy to return to Georgia.
He took over the family farm and Carter’s Warehouse, a seed and farm supply store
He got into local politics by serving on the school, hospital authority, and library boards.
State Politics
1962 – elected to Georgia Senate Lost his first campaign for governor
in 1966 Won 1970 election and took office in
1971. Consolidated an oversized government
from 65 agencies and 200 boards and bureaus into 20 agencies.
Reformed education to provide funds for vocational education, reduce class size and equalize school funding
Georgia’s son becomes President
Elected president in 1976 – the only President from Georgia People were attracted to his honesty and
saw him as a political newcomer Came along at the end of Watergate, the
nation’s worst political scandal that resulted in the resignation of President Richard Nixon
Seen as more casual and down-home than previous presidents
Presidential Years (1977-1981) Nationally, high inflation and
unemployment had stagnated the economy.
Carter created 2 new cabinet depts. (Energy and Education), and appointed a record number of women and minorities to federal gov’t. offices
Internationally, two events scarred Carter’s term: the Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan and the seizure of the American embassy in Tehran, Iran.
Iranian Hostage Crisis
Iran had an Islamic revolution and kicked out its leader, the Shah.
As part of the Revolution, Islamic radicals stormed the U.S. embassy and took 52 Americans hostage.
They remained hostages for 444 days and were not released until Ronald Reagan took office in 1981.
This was seen as Carter’s biggest failure.
Post-Presidential Years (1981 – Present)
After returning to Georgia, he founded the Carter Center.
The Center focuses on human rights issues around the world It has monitored elections, resolved
conflicts, and worked to control diseases around the world
He worked to establish Habitat for Humanity
He won the Nobel peace Prize in 2002
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