James Earl Carter Jr. (October 1, 1924 – December 29, 2024) was an American politician and humanitarian, best known for serving as the 39th president of the United States from 1977 to 1981. A member of the Democratic Party, he held the office of Georgia's 76th governor from 1971 to 1975 and was a member of the Georgia State Senate from 1963 to 1967. Carter became the longest-living president in U.S. history, also making history as the first to live to 100 years old.
Jimmy Carter
39th President of the United States
In office: January 20, 1977 – January 20, 1981
Vice President: Walter Mondale
Preceded by: Gerald Ford
Succeeded by: Ronald Reagan
76th Governor of Georgia
In office: January 12, 1971 – January 14, 1975
Lieutenant Governor: Lester Maddox
Preceded by: Lester Maddox
Succeeded by: George Busbee
Member of the Georgia State Senate for the 14th District
Term: January 14, 1963 – January 9, 1967
Preceded by: James M. Dykes
Succeeded by: Hugh Carter
Personal Details
Born: James Earl Carter Jr.
October 1, 1924, Plains, Georgia, U.S.
Died: December 29, 2024 (aged 100), Plains, Georgia, U.S.
Political Party: Democratic
Spouse: Rosalynn Smith (married 1946; passed away 2023)
Children: 4, including Jack and Amy
Parents: James Earl Carter Sr., Bessie Lillian Gordy
Relatives: Carter family
Education: United States Naval Academy (BS)
Civilian Awards: Full list available
Born and raised in Plains, Georgia, Carter graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1946 and joined the U.S. Navy's submarine service. He married Rosalynn Smith, and together they worked closely throughout their lives. After completing his military service, Carter returned to his hometown to revitalize his family's peanut farming business. A staunch opponent of racial segregation, he supported the civil rights movement and became an active figure in the Democratic Party. Following his time in the Georgia State Senate and as governor of Georgia, Carter ran for president in 1976. Initially a little-known candidate, he secured the Democratic nomination and chose Walter Mondale as his vice-presidential running mate. They won a narrow victory over the Republican ticket of President Gerald Ford and Senator Bob Dole.
On his second day in office, Carter granted a pardon to all Vietnam War draft evaders. He implemented a national energy policy focused on conservation, price controls, and new technologies. Carter successfully brokered the Camp David Accords, negotiated the Panama Canal Treaties, and led the second round of Strategic Arms Limitation Talks. He also addressed the issue of stagflation. During his presidency, he signed legislation creating the United States Department of Energy and the United States Department of Education. The final two years of his presidency were defined by the Three Mile Island accident, the establishment of diplomatic relations with China, and other significant developments.
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