In the mid-1970s, Jimmy Carter campaigned as a political outsider for the White House promising honesty, good governance and respect for human rights. These were issues that remained at the forefront of his thinking both during and after his one-term presidency.
Carter, who turns 100 on October 1, 2024, is the longest-living president and has spent more than four decades out of office. During these years he continued his human rights and humanitarian work. He undertook several (sometimes controversial) peacekeeping missions abroad, and helped build homes for charity alongside his wife, Rosalind (1927-2023), well into his late 90s.
“One of the things Jesus taught was: If you have any talents, try to utilize them for the benefit of others,” President Carter told People magazine in 2019. “That’s what Rosa and I have both tried to do.”
Below, look back at some of the key moments in Carter’s life, from his rustic Georgia upbringing to his post-presidency honors.
Jimmy Carter was born on October 1, 1924, in rural Georgia.
Carter grew up on a farm in a house without electricity or indoor plumbing. His family grew peanuts and other crops, and also owned a store and warehouse.
Carter graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1946 and was assigned to the Navy’s fledgling nuclear submarine program.
After his father’s death in 1953, Carter left the Navy, returning to Georgia to manage the family’s peanut business.
In 1946, Carter married Rosalynn Smith, a friend of his sister’s, with whom he would have four children. Carter later called her his most trusted advisor.
From 1963 to 1967, Carter served in the Georgia State Senate, and in 1970, he was elected as Governor of Georgia (shown here). As White Citizens’ Councils sprang up across the South in opposition to the Supreme Court’s Brown v. Board of Education decision, Carter refused to join the segregationist organization. Later, in his inaugural address as governor of Georgia, he declared, “quite frankly…the time for racial discrimination is over.” Carter remained as governor until 1975.
Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter are shown here with their children and their children's families. Three of the Carter's four children were grown by the time their father became president. Their daughter, Amy, lived with her parents at the White House and attended public schools.
On November 2, 1976, Carter defeated incumbent Republican President Gerald Ford to become the 39th president of the United States. In one of his first acts as president, Carter issued an executive order pardoning all Vietnam War draft evaders.
Channeling Franklin D. Roosevelt, Carter gave his first “fireside chat” less than two weeks into his presidency, in which he stressed energy conservation and wore a sweater to promote turning down the thermostat. He later installed solar panels on the roof of the White House (which were taken down by his successor, Ronald Reagan).
On September 7, 1977, Carter signed a treaty providing for the eventual transfer of the Panama Canal from U.S. to Panamanian control.
Carter brokered a peace deal between longtime enemies Egypt and Israel during 13 days of intense negotiations at Camp David in 1978.
On April 25, 1980, Carter delivered a speech from the Oval Office concerning the botched rescue attempt of 53 U.S. hostages being held by supporters of the Iranian Revolution. The hostages were finally released, after 444 days in captivity, on the day Carter left office. This crisis—along with high unemployment, high inflation, and high energy prices—contributed to Carter’s defeat in the 1980 presidential election.
Often described as America’s best former president, Carter spent much of his post-presidency championing human rights, democracy, conflict resolution, mental health services and disease prevention. In recognition of these efforts, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002.
Carter is a big supporter of the nonprofit organization Habitat for Humanity, working here alongside hundreds of volunteers from around the world to help low-income families realize the dream of homeownership.
Since leaving office, Carter wrote dozens of books, the latest of which, Faith: A Journey for All, won his third Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album.
Jimmy Carter as he boards a helicopter on the White House lawn, November 1979.
1 / 16: Diana Walker/Getty Images
Sign up for Inside History
Get HISTORY’s most fascinating stories delivered to your inbox three times a week.
By submitting your information, you agree to receive emails from HISTORY and A+E Networks. You can opt out at any time. You must be 16 years or older and a resident of the United States.
