James Earl Carter, Jr. turns 100 today. The former president has a legacy that will live another 100 years or more.
He served as governor of Georgia, and as the 36th president of the United States. He only served one term, and had a reputation as overseeing a country in “malaise” from inflation and international crises. However, he did oversee several important international accomplishments, including the Camp David Accords and an arms reduction treaty with the Soviet Union.
And yet, the work he performed after his presidency is what makes him so admirable, respectable, and unique among political leaders around the world. After serving as president, he became heavily involved in working towards bringing peace to the world, both through diplomatic efforts and through community volunteer work.
On this centennial, let’s look at some of the places that molded him into one of the most influential individuals of the 20th century.
Boyhood Home, Plains, GA
Born in rural Georgia on October 1, 1924, Jimmy was the oldest of four kids, and would later be confirmed as the first US president born in a hospital. His parents, like most white people of the time, supported segregation, but their family home was in a predominately African American area, which influenced Carter’s outlook and support for integration.
Carter started farming an acre of land in his teens, selling peanuts and developing a reputation as a hardworking kid.
US Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD
After attending Georgia Tech and graduating from the US Naval Academy, Carter married his hometown love, Rosalynn Smith. Carter was commissioned in the Navy as an ensign, and the couple began their life together with constant deployments and moving the family around the US. Carter served on nuclear submarines, which would have been a tight fit for the nearly 6′ sailor.
Governor’s Mansion, Atlanta, GA
After suddenly resigning from the Navy for family matters, the family moved back to tiny Plains, Georgia. What seemed like a major setback turned into the key to launch him onto the world stage. Carter became a state senator, and then was elected governor of Georgia in 1970. In his inaugural speech, he said “The time of racial discrimination is over,” indicating his commitment to human rights, which he would prioritize for the rest of his life.
The Governor’s mansion is a three-story mansion set on 18 acres of land in the upscale Buckhead neighborhood of Atlanta. This is where Carter and his family lived during his one term as governor.
White House, Washington, DC
Towards the end of his first term, Carter announced his intention to run for president of the United States. His genuine approach won over voters, and he won first the Democratic nomination, and then the election in November 1976.
Carter was inaugurated as the 39th president of the United States on January 20, 1977. He and Rosalynn moved to the White House, the official residence of American presidents since John Adams. Each president added their own features, and Carter was no different. He added solar panels (which were later removed) and was the first president to incorporate computers and printers into office functions.
Current Home, Plains, VA
After losing his reelection campaign to Ronald Reagan, Carter moved back to Plains, Georgia. The modest home was built by the Carters in 1961, and they have lived there ever since. Even into their 80s, Jimmy and Rosalynn did their own renovations and maintenance.
From here, Carter continues to speak out on domestic and international issues. He and Rosalynn dedicated their lives to service, from international human rights causes, to volunteering with Habitat for Humanity projects in their own region. This personal commitment to doing more than talking has given Carter a post-presidential legacy far more meaningful than any other leader.
Rosalynn passed away in 2023, and was buried on the property, a testament to the value she and her family place on the area where they grew up, raised their family, and started their political journey. Someday, Jimmy will be buried by her side.
Presidential Library and Museum, Atlanta, GA
Like all presidents, Carter has a formal library full of his presidential papers, documents, important memorabilia, and other materials from his time in office, and his life.
Located in downtown Atlanta, the museum has exhibits featuring the Nobel Peace Prize he was awarded in 2002, other international recognition of his human rights work, as well as a life-size replica of the Oval Office.
The library houses more than 25 million pages of documents, half a million photos, and countless objects that commemorate his time in the public sphere.
The library can be visited for research purposes, and the museum is open to tours. The Carters guaranteed that all students 16 and under can attend for free, and the library funds transportation for students coming on class trips.
National Historic Park, Plains, GA
Carter’s boyhood house and land have been turned into a national historical park, and are an excellent resource for anyone wanting to learn more about this amazing man. The park also includes his old high school and other landmarks that were important to the development of the simple peanut farmer who rose to serve as leader of the free world.
In the decades since he left office, Carter (and his wife Rosalynn) developed a persona separate from and greater than a leader of one political party. They became symbols of human rights, equality under the law, the respect for the individual, and for putting your efforts behind your words. Their collective legacy will last because they found ways to change the world, by changing themselves and the places around them.
President Carter is a remarkable man, and a wonderful example that we can learn from. On this important birthday, let’s wish him a happy birthday, and honor his legacy by doing a kind deed to someone we see today.
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