Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter aspired to make Government "competent and
compassionate," responsive to the American people and their
expectations. His achievements were notable, but in an era of
rising energy costs, mounting inflation, and continuing
tensions, it was impossible for his administration to meet
these high expectations.
Carter, who has rarely used his full name--James Earl
Carter, Jr.--was born October 1, 1924, in Plains, Georgia.
Peanut farming, talk of politics, and devotion to the Baptist
faith were mainstays of his upbringing. Upon graduation in
1946 from the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, Carter
married Rosalynn Smith. The Carters have three sons, John
William (Jack), James Earl III (Chip), Donnel Jeffrey (Jeff),
and a daughter, Amy Lynn.
After seven years' service as a naval officer, Carter
returned to Plains. In 1962 he entered state politics, and
eight years later he was elected Governor of Georgia. Among
the new young southern governors, he attracted attention by
emphasizing ecology, efficiency in government, and the removal
of racial barriers.
Carter announced his candidacy for President in December
1974 and began a two-year campaign that gradually gained
momentum. At the Democratic Convention, he was nominated on
the first ballot. He chose Senator Walter F. Mondale of
Minnesota as his running mate. Carter campaigned hard against
President Gerald R. Ford, debating with him three times.
Carter won by 297 electoral votes to 241 for Ford.
Carter worked hard to combat the continuing economic woes
of inflation and unemployment. By the end of his
administration, he could claim an increase of nearly eight
million jobs and a decrease in the budget deficit, measured in
percentage of the gross national product. Unfortunately,
inflation and interest rates were at near record highs, and
efforts to reduce them caused a short recession.
Carter could point to a number of achievements in domestic
affairs. He dealt with the energy shortage by establishing a
national energy policy and by decontrolling domestic petroleum
prices to stimulate production. He prompted Government
efficiency through civil service reform and proceeded with
deregulation of the trucking and airline industries. He sought
to improve the environment. His expansion of the national park
system included protection of 103 million acres of Alaskan
lands. To increase human and social services, he created the
Department of Education, bolstered the Social Security system,
and appointed record numbers of women, blacks, and Hispanics
to Government jobs.
In foreign affairs, Carter set his own style. His
championing of human rights was coldly received by the Soviet
Union and some other nations. In the Middle East, through the
Camp David agreement of 1978, he helped bring amity between
Egypt and Israel. He succeeded in obtaining ratification of
the Panama Canal treaties. Building upon the work of
predecessors, he established full diplomatic relations with
the People's Republic of China and completed negotiation of
the SALT II nuclear limitation treaty with the Soviet Union.
There were serious setbacks, however. The Soviet invasion
of Afghanistan caused the suspension of plans for ratification
of the SALT II pact. The seizure as hostages of the U. S.
embassy staff in Iran dominated the news during the last 14
months of the administration. The consequences of Iran's
holding Americans captive, together with continuing inflation
at home, contributed to Carter's defeat in 1980. Even then, he
continued the difficult negotiations over the hostages. Iran
finally released the 52 Americans the same day Carter left
office.
