Jimmy Carter

At a Glance

Term: 39th President of the United States (1977-1981)

Born: October 1, 1924, Plains, Georgia

Full Name: James Earl Carter, Jr.

Education: Georgia Southwestern College, 1941-1942; Georgia Institute of Technology, 1942-1943; United States Naval Academy, 1943-1946 (class of 1947); Union College, 1952-1953

Religion: Baptist

Marriage: Eleanor Rosalynn Smith (b. August 18, 1927), July 7, 1946

Children: John William (Jack) (1947-), James Earl III (Chip) (1950-), Donnel Jeffrey (Jeff) (1952-), Amy Lynn (1967-)

Career: Soldier; Farmer, Warehouseman, Public Official, Professor

Political Party: Democrat

Writings: Why Not the Best? (1975); A Government as Good as Its People (1977); The Wit and Wisdom of Jimmy Carter (1977); Keeping Faith (1982); Everything to Gain (1987); An Outdoor Journal (1988); Turning Point (1992); The Blood of Abraham (1993); Always a Reckoning (1995); Living Faith (1996); The Virtues of Aging (1998); An Hour Before Daylight (2001); The Hornet’s Nest (2003); Sharing Good Times (2004).

A Life in Brief: Jimmy Carter’s one-term presidency is remembered for the events that overwhelmed it -— inflation, energy crisis, war in Afghanistan, and hostages in Iran. After one term in office, voters strongly rejected Jimmy Carter’s honest but gloomy outlook in favor of Ronald Reagan’s telegenic optimism. More....

Essays on Jimmy Carter and His Administration

Consulting Editor: Robert A. Strong

Professor Strong is the William Lyne Wilson Professor of Politics at Washington and Lee University. He is also an associate editor of the White House Studies journal and has worked on the Presidential Oral History program at the Miller Center. His writings include:

Working in the World: Jimmy Carter and the Making of American Foreign Policy (Louisiana State University Press, 2000)

Decisions and Dilemmas: Case Studies in Presidential Foreign Policy Making (M.E. Sharpe, 2005)