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