Jimmy Carter (born October 1, 1924)
39th President of the United States January 20, 1977 – January 20, 1981
James Earl Carter was the 39th President of the United States, serving from 1977 – 1981. He was born in Plains Georgia and graduated from the Naval Academy in Annapolis Maryland in 1946. That same year he married Rosalynn Smith. He is the father of three sons.
He was elected as Governor of Georgia in 1962. During his tenure he worked to end racial barriers and promote efficiency in government. He was also an environmentalist who adhered to his strong Baptist faith.
He won the 1976 presidential election against the Republican Gerald R. Ford. Due to the resignations of both Nixon and his Vice President, Ford had been president in the interim, but never elected.
His presidency was largely overshadowed by the economic woes at that time which included high interest rates, unemployment, the energy crisis, and inflation. To combat these forces, he deregulated petroleum prices, trucking, and the airline industry.
He also expanded the national park system, created the department of education, and saw an increase of eight million jobs by the end of his term.
He met with Middle East leaders in 1978 and brokered peace between Israel and Egypt. For this effort, Anwar Sadat and Menachem Begin were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize that year. President Carter was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002.
In November 1979, Americans at the US Embassy in Tehran we taken hostage by a group of Iranian militants loyal to Ruhollah Khomeini. The siege lasted through the rest of Jimmy Carter’s Presidency. After losing the election, Jimmy Carter continued to negotiate for the prisoners’ release. They were released the day he left office.
After his presidency, President Carter and his wife devoted their time to numerous humanitarian and social causes, including his work with Habitat for Humanity and the Carter Center.
Stars were named for President Carter in 1998 and in 2002 as Christmas Gifts.
James E Carter
Draco RA 19h 16m 15.08s D 70° 6' 33.82"
December 25, 1998
Jimmy Carter
Hercules RA 17h 47m 55.89s D 49° 13' 13.70"
December 25, 2002