Jimmy Carter Marches On

 

by Pa Rock

Citizen Journalist

America's longest surviving President, Jimmy Carter, hits another milestone today with the celebration of his ninety-eighth birthday.  Carter was born in a small hospital in Plains, Georgia, where his mother worked as a registered nurse, on October 1, 1924.    He was the first US President to have ever been born in a hospital.

Jimmy Carter attended local public schools in Georgia before entering and graduating from the US Naval Academy in 1946.  He is a trained nuclear engineer and saw service on board the Navy's second nuclear submarine, the USS Seawolf, before its commissioning.  He worked closely with Admiral Hyman Rickover, the father of the US nuclear submarine program, and he had hopes of becoming the commander of the USS Seawolf, but those hopes were dashed when Carter's father passed away in 1953 and the young officer felt compelled to return to Georgia and take over the family's farm and business operations.

Jimmy Carter and Rosalynn Smith were married in July of 1946, and this past July they celebrated their 76th wedding anniversary.  They have been married longer than any other US presidential couple in history.

After returning to Plains, Jimmy Carter became active in many community endeavors and eventually entered politics where he was elected to the Georgia State Senate and Governor of Georgia.  Carter was elected President of the United States in November of 1976 when he defeated incumbent President Gerald Ford, and he served one full term before being defeated for re-election by Ronald Reagan.  

During Carter's presidency he emphasized bringing the concept of "human rights" into international diplomacy.  Carter's administration moved to normalize relations with China, further the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks with Russia, and deescalate tensions in the Middle East through talks between Israel and Egypt which he hosted at Camp David.  But Carter's administration also had to deal with spiking gas prices and rampant inflation, economic conditions which ultimately cost him re-election.

In their post White House years Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter helped to create the Carter Center, a global concern that seeks to improve peoples' lives by resolving conflicts, advancing democracy, and defeating disease.  Jimmy and Rosalynn have traveled the world promoting the programs of the Carter Center.  They have also been active with Habitat for Humanity, a charitable organization that builds homes for families in need.    The Carters have been living examples of the powerful impact that former Presidents and First Spouses of the United States can still exert of the world around them.

Jimmy Carter won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 for his unflinching humanitarian work and efforts to bring about world peace.

And in his spare time Jimmy Carter has taught Sunday school for many years and has written thirty-two books.  He is also a skilled fly-fisherman.

Happy birthday, President Carter.  Thank you for continuing to inspire and lead us forward.