Jimmy Carter

Jimmy Carter was born October 1, 1924 in Plains, Georgia and spent his formative years working on a peanut farm before attending the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland.

Carter earned notoriety as governor of Georgia for eliminating segregation and increasing Black representation in state government. Additionally, he reduced bureaucracy within the government and promoted efficiency.

Born in Plains, Georgia

Jimmy Carter was born on October 1, 1924 in Plains, Georgia to James Earl Carter Sr. - a farmer and businessman - and Lillian Gordy - a nurse.

At the time of his birth, Plains was a small town with few amenities - although there was a hospital there. He attended public school there before graduating from Georgia Southwestern College. Subsequently, he received an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.

After graduating, he was commissioned as an Ensign in the United States Navy and served for seven years, including a tour on a nuclear submarine. In 1946 he wed Rosalynn Smith; they eventually returned to Plains in 1953 where he took over their family peanut business.

Carter began selling peanuts harvested on his family's farm to local people as a young boy. As an adolescent, Carter attended Georgia Southwestern College and the Georgia Institute of Technology.

In 1953, Carter's father passed away and he decided to return home. Together with Rosalynn, he took over the family farms and launched a general-purpose seed and farming supply business.

The National Park Service oversees several locations near the Plains region that were significant to President Carter, such as his boyhood farm and high school. Collectively, these are referred to as Jimmy Carter National Historic Site.

After leaving the White House, Carter dedicated his career to international peacemaking and conflict resolution. He founded the Carter Center, which addresses public policy matters such as settling conflicts, promoting democracy abroad and combatting disease. For his efforts, he has earned multiple awards including the Nobel Peace Prize.

Graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy

The United States Naval Academy is an esteemed institution located in Annapolis, Maryland at the confluence of the Severn River and Chesapeake Bay. As the second oldest federal service academy, its students are officers-in-training (midshipmen). They receive full tuition funding from the U.S. Navy in exchange for five years active duty commitment upon graduation.

The academy's curriculum is tailored to give students a comprehensive education in engineering, science and mathematics with the option to major in their chosen subject. Furthermore, courses on leadership, ethics and military law provide practical experience that prepares them for joining either the Navy or Marine Corps.

A major part of the academy's curriculum is taught through the Honor Concept, a system that instills values such as integrity and loyalty. The Brigade Honor Committees strive to educate and train midshipmen in these moral principles outlined in an honor code which all midshipmen must abide by.

Midshipmen who violate the honor code can expect disciplinary action. Additionally, there are a few permanent military professors (PMP) who teach classes in science, mathematics and social sciences for their own academic advancement as well as some civilian professors.

The Naval Academy is a four-year coed college that offers bachelor's degrees in numerous subjects. With an impressive student-faculty ratio of 8:1, it's one of the top ranked schools in America and boasts an impressive 90% graduation rate.

Served in the U.S. Navy

Jimmy Carter joined the United States Navy upon graduation from Annapolis' U.S. Naval Academy in 1946 and quickly rose through their ranks, eventually serving as a lieutenant. However, he later left his commission behind to run his family peanut farm in Plains, Georgia before returning home.

He was also a volunteer with the Salvation Army and Habitat for Humanity, dedicated to improving his community as well as those less fortunate. Additionally, he founded The Carter Center with the purpose of furthering democracy and promoting global health awareness.

As a submariner, Carter worked alongside Admiral Hyman Rickover - the legendary father of nuclear Navy technology. At this time, Rickover was experimenting with nuclear power plants and designing the first in an impressive line of nuclear submarines.

Carter graduated from the Navy's Officer Course and was assigned to USS Pomfret (SS 391) based at Pearl Harbor. Qualifying for submarine duty in February 1949, Carter served as Communications Officer, Sonar Officer, Electronics Officer and Gunnery Officer.

His tenure with the Pomfret ended in October 1951, when he was transferred to Groton, Connecticut and assigned to precommissioning detail on USS K-1 (SSK 1). As the first postwar submarine built, K-1 was named in honor of Carter as a way of saying thank you for his services.

After serving his tour of duty with K-1, Carter began studying nuclear power plant operations at Union College in Schenectady, New York. In 1953, his father passed away and Carter resigned his commission to take over his family peanut farm. In 1954, Carter was reassigned by the Navy and sent to nuclear power school to learn how to operate nuclear plants.

Served in the Georgia state senate

Jimmy Carter considered running for office, believing that politics would be the ideal fit. He wanted to do his part to improve Plains and its residents by serving on the school board and hospital authority boards. Through local government work, Jimmy was able to make a real impact.

Carter worked to reduce wasteful government spending and repeal laws designed to disenfranchise African American voters. Furthermore, he ensured the state's public schools were run more efficiently so children could receive the best education possible.

He was an outspoken supporter of civil rights, particularly school desegregation. This support of integration despite opposition from his own parents and wife Rosalynn.

After being elected to the Georgia senate in 1962, he encountered an unexpected obstacle: an outspoken segregationist who attempted to cheat in order to win. But after uncovering this fraud in court, he was easily reelected two years later.

Once in the senate, Carter quickly established himself as an effective and respected leader of his party. His tireless work and devotion to Georgia's people earned him many admirations.

In the 1970s, he ran for governor of Georgia as a moderate progressive. Though defeated in his initial run-off election, he easily won reelection the following year. Later that same year, he decided to run for President; losing out to Gerald Ford but being re-elected every two years from 1977 through 1981. Ultimately, his success as a politician earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 1981.

Served as president of the United States

Jimmy Carter served one term as president of the United States and strived to make government more responsive to citizens and their expectations. To this end, he established the Department of Energy and implemented a national energy policy in response to an energy shortage, deregulated domestic petroleum prices, and promoted efficiency through civil service reform - among many other domestic policy accomplishments.

Noteworthy achievements included the signing of Camp David Accords, a peace accord between Egypt and Israel; establishment of full diplomatic relations with China; negotiation of SALT II nuclear limitation treaty with Soviet Union; and fulfilling American promises to return control over Panama Canal to local peoples.

On the presidential campaign trail, Carter was a popular and charismatic figure who won over voters with his down-to-earth style. Instead of riding in a limousine like previous presidents, he chose to walk down Pennsylvania Avenue with Rosalynn instead, often carrying his own garment bag when boarding Air Force One.

His presidency was marked by his passion to advance democracy, human rights and economic development around the globe. After leaving the White House, he founded The Carter Center in Atlanta with his wife Rosalynn as a nonprofit organization to address these pressing issues.

The organization has been involved in a range of areas, such as elections observation to guarantee fairness in over 100 countries; village-based health care delivery; and the promotion of human rights standards. In 2002, Jimmy Carter was honored with the Nobel Peace Prize for his diplomacy and advocacy work.

Jimmy Carter has been active in a variety of charitable endeavors beyond The Carter Center. He has volunteered for the United Nations and served on various nonprofit boards. Additionally, Jimmy has authored several books and continues to build homes annually with Habitat for Humanity.