Super Eco

Photo credit: I'm Not That Girl, flickr

James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. was born in Plains, Georgia on October 1, 1924 to Bessie Lillian Gordy and James Earl Carter. The family’s peanut farming business, talk of politics, and devotion to his faith were crucial to his upbringing. After graduating in 1946 from the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, Carter married Rosalynn Smith. The Carters have three sons, John William, James Earl III, Donnel Jeffrey, and a daughter, Amy Lynn.

After serving seven years as a naval officer, Carter returned to Plains whereupon he entered state politics, becoming elected to the state Senate. Eight years later he was elected Governor of Georgia. From the beginning of his tenure as Governor he emphasized the importance of the environment, efficiency in government, and the removal of racial barriers. Jimmy Carter announced his candidacy for President in December 1974 and began a two-year campaign which gradually gained momentum. Nominated on the first ballot at the Democratic National Convention, he then chose Senator Walter F. Mondale of Minnesota as his running mate. Elected the 39th President of the United States, Jimmy Carter served from 1977 to 1981.

During his presidency Carter worked in earnest to combat the looming economic woes of inflation and unemployment. By the end of his administration, he could claim an increase of nearly eight million jobs and a decrease in the overall National budget deficit. While President, he expanded the national park system to include the protection of 103 million acres of Alaskan lands. He fought to increase human and social services, by creating the Department of Education and bolstering the Social Security system. President Carter appointed a record numbers of Women and African and Hispanic Americans to Governmental jobs. In foreign affairs, Jimmy Carter set his own style. His championed the cause of human rights worldwide. In the Middle East, through the Camp David agreement of 1978, he helped further an understanding between Egypt and Israel. He succeeded in obtaining ratification of the Panama Canal treaties. He established full diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China and completed negotiation of the SALT II nuclear limitation treaty with the Soviet Union.

Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter became involved with Habitat for Humanity International in 1984 when the former president led a work group to New York City to help renovate a six-story building with 19 families in need of decent, affordable shelter. That experience planted the seed, and the Carter Work Project has been an internationally recognized event of HFHI ever since.

Former President Carter for his work "to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development" was recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize.

Notable Eco Activity

On the leading wave of energy conservation visionaries, in a televised speech on April 18, 1977, President Carter delivered this message: “Tonight I want to have an unpleasant talk with you about a problem unprecedented in our history. With the exception of preventing war, this is the greatest challenge our country will face during our lifetimes. The energy crisis has not yet overwhelmed us, but it will if we do not act quickly. It is a problem we will not solve in the next few years, and it is likely to get progressively worse through the rest of this century. We must not be selfish or timid if we hope to have a decent world for our children and grandchildren. We simply must balance our demand for energy with our rapidly shrinking resources. By acting now, we can control our future instead of letting the future control us...Because we are now running out of gas and oil, we must prepare quickly for a third change, to strict conservation and to the use of coal and permanent renewable energy sources, like solar power."

In 1979, President Jimmy Carter installed solar panels on the roof of the White House West Wing. The panels, which were used to heat water for the staff eating area, were a symbol of a new solar strategy that Carter said was going to "move our nation toward true energy security and abundant, readily available energy supplies." In 1986, President Ronald Reagan took the solar panels down when the White House roof was being repaired. They were never reinstalled.

Famous Quotes

"Habitat has opened up unprecedented opportunities for me to cross the chasm that separates those of us who are free, safe, financially secure, well fed and housed, and influential enough to shape our own destiny from our neighbors who enjoy few, if any, of these advantages of life,"

"America did not invent human rights. In a very real sense human rights invented America."

"Globalization, as defined by rich people like us, is a very nice thing... you are talking about the Internet, you are talking about cell phones, you are talking about computers. This doesn't affect two-thirds of the people of the world."

"It is good to realize that if love and peace can prevail on earth, and if we can teach our children to honor nature's gifts, the joys and beauties of the outdoors will be here forever."

• Jimmy Carter Details

  • Birth Date

    October 1, 1924

  • Born In

    United States

  • Home Page

    http://www.cartercenter.org/

  • Lives In

    United States

  • Organizations

    Unavailable

  • Occupation

    39th U.S. President, Author