By Christopher M Peeks October 1, 2024
Today marks a milestone for an iconic figure in American history. President Jimmy Carter turns 100. Only a fraction of people reach this age. Let us take a moment to reflect on his life and pay homage to the former President.
Jimmy Carter entered this world on October 1st, 1924, becoming the first American president born in a hospital. While attending Georgia Tech, he participated in naval ROTC and secured an appointment to Annapolis in 1943. Graduating in 1946, Carter served seven years, reaching the rank of lieutenant. After leaving the Navy, he returned home to Plains, Georgia to help run the family peanut business.
In 1946, Jimmy Carter married Rosalynn, with whom he had three children, and the two remained together for 77 years, the longest in presidential history. By managing the books, Rosalynn helped Jimmy, whom he referred to as his partner, develop a successful farming business. In 1962, Carter made the first of several decisions that altered the course of American and world history.
The landmark 1954 Supreme Court Brown versus Board of Education decision marked the beginning of the Civil Rights movement. Carter, after witnessing the plight of impoverished blacks in his youth, believed in racial tolerance. After remaining silent on the issue to avoid confrontation, Carter began to speak openly about integration in 1961 as chairman of the Sumter County School board.
With only 15 days left before the qualification deadline, Carter announced his candidacy for state senate. At first, he appeared to lose the election only to have it overturned for fraudulent ballots. Subsequently, he emerged victorious in a second new round of balloting. Carter rose in the party leadership, serving on the state execution committee. After one term, Carter made another pivotal choice.
Becoming political rivals with Bo Callaghan, elected to Congress after switching to the Republican Party, Carter planned to challenge him in 1964. When Callahan decided to run for Governor, Carter followed suit. The showdown between the two never developed as Carter finished third in the Democratic primary. He returned home and began plotting his political comeback.
In 1970, Carter ran for governor again. Following a brutal primary, Carter, in an even more brutal run-off, defeated former Governor Carl Sanders and that November won the general election, becoming the 76th governor of Georgia. Carter met with his campaign staff regularly. Term-limited, he set his eyes on the presidency, and yet again, Governor Carter made another monumental decision.
In December 1974, Carter announced his intentions to run for president. A virtual unknown, he burst onto the national spotlight with an old-school way of campaigning. Carter went door to door, saying in a straightforward manner "I'm Jimmy Carter, and I'm running for president." His victories in Iowa and New Hampshire propelled him on his path of capturing the Democratic nomination and that fall unseated President Gerald Ford, Carter became the nation's 39th president in January.
President Carter achieved one of the most foreign policy accomplishments unseen in the history of the world, and not matched since when he brokered the Camp David Accords, a peace deal between Egypt and Israel. He also signed an arms reduction treaty with the Soviet Union. However, these accomplishments were overshadowed by the 1980 Iran hostage crisis.
Paralyzed by this crisis, the world watched as they waited for Carter's response. In a brazen move, the president made a command decision that altered history again. He approved a rescue mission that ended in a disaster. Hampered by the economic recession, Reagan defeated Carter in a landslide that November.
As president; Jimmy Carter issued a pardon for all Vietnam War draft evaders and implemented a national energy policy focusing on conservation, price control, new technology, and the Panama Canal Treaties.
His administration also established the U.S. Department of Energy and Education. However, his presidency was also marked by challenges, including the Iran hostage crisis, an energy crisis, the Three Mile Island accident, the Nicaraguan Revolution, and the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. In response to the invasion, Carter escalated the Cold War, ending détente, imposing a grain embargo against the Soviets, enunciating the Carter Doctrine, and leading the multinational boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow.
After completing his time in office, Carter established the Carter Center to advance human rights. Recognizing his dedication, he was honored with the Nobel Peace Prize 2002. He devoted himself to extensive travel, engaging in peace negotiations, overseeing elections, and working to combat infectious diseases. Carter's involvement with the nonprofit housing organization Habitat for Humanity has been truly impactful. In addition to his political memoirs, he has shared his thoughts through various books, including poetry. He has continued to offer insight into global affairs, notably authoring two books on the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. While some historians and political scientists may rank his presidency as below average, his post-presidency, the longest in U.S. history, is widely viewed more favourably by scholars.
Carter faced many challenges during his time in office. His handling of these events made him look weak and inept. However, nothing could be further from the truth. Wearing a sweater and asking U.S. citizens to follow his lead and turn down their thermostats to conserve energy is not something people want to hear. He did the right thing by returning the Panama Canal, but he did not help himself with voters this act Although ridiculed for the failed rescue attempt of the Iranian hostages, he demonstrated decisive leadership when he made that call. Had the military operation succeeded, there is no doubt that he would have won reelection. Carter cemented his legacy during his "second term" by bettering the lives of so many impoverished people. Though his presidency was not as successful as he wished, his life has been, and America and the world are better off because of him. Happy 100th birthday, President Carter. Humanity thanks you.
Christopher M Peeks
Reporter and Columnist
Alabama Political Contributor
Well-written