Jimmy Carter Essay, Research Paper

Jimmy Carter

Jimmy Carter was born on October 1, 1924, in Plains, Georgia. He was the first president to be born in the hospital (the Wise Clinic in Plains). His parents were James Earl Carter (born 1894, died 1953), and Lillian Gordy Carter (born 1898, died 1983). Jimmy had 3 siblings, Ruth Carter (Stapleton), Gloria Carter (Spann), and William Alton (Billy) Carter. Jimmy Carter?s ancestry was English, his religion is Baptist.

He went to the following schools:

- Plains High school, Georgia (1929-1941)

- Georgia Southwestern College, Americus, Georgia (1941-1942)

- Georgia Institute of Technology (1942-1943?

- United States Naval Academy, Annapolis (1943-1946 *class of 1947*)

- Union College, Schenectady, New York (1952-1953)

Some of Jimmy Carter?s favorites are:

Sports and hobbies

- Played Basket ball in Plains High school

- Ran cross-country & played under-140 lb. football at Annapolis.

- Life-long tennis player

- Plays softball, billiards, bowls, fishes, hunts( especially wild turkey, quail, and dove)

- Rode a motorcycle before entering politics

- To keep in shape, rides a bicycle, jogs, plays tennis.

- Dances with Rosalynn

- Favorite spectator sport is basketball

Breakfast

- Orange juice, coffee, fruit, and cereal. Sometimes pancakes.

Food

- Sirloin steak, medium rare

- Any kind of fish or poultry

- Corn bread

- Any vegetables except beans

- Salad with Roquefort dressing

- Frozen yogurt

Hymns

- The Navy Hymn "Eternal Father Strong to Save"

- "Amazing Grace"

- "Blest Be the Tie That Binds"

Color

- Blue

Gift to receive (as a youth)

- Books

Books

- Let Us Now Praise Famous Men by James Agee

- War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy

Poet

- Dylan Thomas

- Miller Williams

Philosopher

- Paul Tillich

- Reinhold Niebuhr

- Soren Kierkegaard

Bible quote

"Behold I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." (Revelations

3:20)

Some of his occupations were: Served in U.S. Navy to rank of lieutenant, 1946-53; farmer, warehouseman, Plains 1953-77; member of Georgia Senate 1963-1967; Governor of Georgia 1971- 1975; president of the United States 1977-1981; University Professor, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 1982-presodent.

Upon graduation in 1946 from the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, Carter married Rosalynn Smith. They had three sons, John William (Jack), James Earl III (Chip), Donnel Jeffrey (Jeff), and a daughter, Amy Lynn.

After serving as a Naval Officer for 7 years, Carter returned to plains, and in 1962 he entered state politics. 8 years later he was elected Governor of Georgia. As a governor, he strongly emphasized ecology, efficiency in government, and the removal of racial barriers.

Jimmy Carter announced his candidacy for President in December 1974, and began a two-year campaign. At the Democratic Convention, he was nominated on the first ballot. As his running mate, Carter chose Senator Walter F. Mondale of Minnesota. Carter campaigned against President Gerald R. Ford, debating with him three times, and finally Carter won by 297 electoral votes to 241 for Ford. He was sworn in as president (at the age of 52 years, 3 months, and 20 days) n January 20, 1977.

Presidency

By the end of his presidency, Carter could claim credit for an increase of nearly 8 million jobs and a decrease in the budget deficit, measured in percentage of the gross national product. But unfortunately, inflation and interest rates were at near record highs, and efforts to reduce them caused a short recession.

Carter had several 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 Governments efficiency through civil service reform and proceeded with deregulation of the trucking and airline industries. He fought to improve the environment. His expansions of the national park systems included protection of 103 million acres of Alaskan lands. 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, in the Middle East, through the Camp David agreement of 1978, he helped bring amity between Egypt and Israel. He also succeeded in obtaining ratification of the Panama Canal treaties. He established full diplomatic relations with the People?s Republic of China and completed negotiations of the SALT II nuclear limitation treaty with the Soviet Union.

Although he may have succeeded in several things he also failed in some area, for example take the SALT II treaty. The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan caused the suspension of plans for the ratification of the SALT II pact, and the U.S. embassy staff in Iran was kept hostage for over a year and Carter couldn?t do anything about it.

After Carter lost the 1980 presidential election to Reagan, he returned to Georgia, where in 1982 he founded the non-profit Carter Center in Atlanta to promote peace and human rights worldwide. The center has initiated projects in more than 65 countries to resolve conflicts, prevent human right abuses, build democracy, improve health, and revitalize urban areas. He, and his wife, Rosalynn, still live in Plains.

31d