Politician Jimmy Carter has made the career that every American dreams of. He went from a simple farmer to the White House, remained in the history of the United States, but did not deserve the great love of the population, could not hold the presidency. However, Carter played a certain role in world history, and his life path deserves interest.
Formative Years
Jimmy Carter was born into a we althy farmer's family in Georgia on October 1, 1924. Nothing foreshadowed a brilliant political career, although the parents gave the child an excellent education: he studied at Southwestern State College and at the Georgia Tech University. But he did not plan to go into politics, but dreamed of becoming a military man. Therefore, he enters the US Naval Academy, hoping to achieve his dream. For 10 years, he successfully made a career in the navy, served in the nuclear submarine fleet, and became a senior officer.
But in 1953, family circumstances demanded his resignation from the army. His father died, and all the care of managing the farm fell on Jimmy's shoulders. Hewas the only son, his sisters could not grow peanuts, and so Jimmy took over the management of the farm. His family had strict rules, his father professed Baptism and raised his children in religious traditions. Jimmy inherited a certain conservatism from his father. But from his mother he passed on a high social activity. She was engaged in social activities a lot and, even at an advanced age, did not leave her activities and worked, for example, in the peace corps in India.
Jimmy ran his household so successfully that he soon became a millionaire and began to engage in social activities.
The path of the politician
In 1961, Jimmy Carter steps onto the political path, he becomes a member of the district board of education, then passes to the Georgia State Senate. In 1966, Carter puts forward his candidacy for the post of governor of the state, but loses the race, but does not deviate from the intended goal and takes this peak four years later. His election program was based on the elimination of racial discrimination, this idea was his guiding star in all elections in Georgia, it was organic to the character and views of the politician. Carter was a member of the Democratic Party and hoped that he would get into the chair of vice president during the administration of D. Ford, but Nelson Rockefeller beat him. Then Jimmy gets the idea to become president himself.
Election race
The situation in the USA has contributed to the fact that peoplewill be disappointed in the Republicans and the Democratic Party, including Carter, will have a better chance in the fight for the presidency. Carter made an incredible breakthrough, he quickly flew into the elite of American politics, going from an outsider of the race to its clear leader in 9 months.
His campaign took place immediately after the passage of the law on public funding of all such events, it equalized the chances of candidates and helped Carter. The Watergate scandal also played in his favor, after the machinations of Nixon, the Americans no longer wanted to believe professional politicians who discredited themselves. The Democratic Party took advantage of this by putting up candidates from the people, which Carter was considered to be. Jimmy was supported by the leaders of the movement for the protection of the rights of the black population, this provided him with the majority of the votes. At the beginning of the race, Carter was ahead of D. Ford by about 30%, but in the end his advantage was always two percent. Still, he was hindered by a pronounced southern dialect; in media coverage, he did not look as advantageous as his opponent. Carter did not have a good understanding with the political elites, he was perceived as a political amateur, and this will interfere with him not only during the elections, but also during the presidency.
America's 1 Man
November 2, 1976, world news agencies reported: Jimmy Carter is the President of the United States. The election campaign was over, but hard times were just coming for Carter. The US economy during this period wasexhausted by the Vietnam War, as well as a brutal oil crisis, which was new to the country. New, radical measures were needed to help restore the economy. The president had to fight high inflation, look for ways to restore economic growth, he makes an unpopular decision and raises taxes, which does not give the desired economic effect, but sets people against government policy.
As the price of gasoline and other goods rises in the country, Jimmy Carter is looking for ways to overcome the problems. In addition, he tries his best not to look like Nixon, the infamous president who retired early. Carter refuses many benefits that are due to the first person of the state: he does not want to ride a limousine on the day of the inauguration, he carries his own suitcases, he sells the presidential yacht. At first, the population likes it, but later comes the realization that there is no content behind these actions, but only one formality.
To overcome the arrogance of the political elites, Carter recruits into the government of young employees who worked with him back in Georgia, the only intermediary between the president and the state elite is Vice President W alter Mondale.
Jimmy Carter, whose domestic and foreign policies were inconsistent, sought to realize the best intentions, but he did not always succeed. He quickly became the object of ridicule and caricature. For example, the story of a rabbit that allegedly attacked Carter while fishing turned into a satirical pamphlet illustrating the president's weakness and indecision.
Peaceful President
Jimmy Carter's foreign policy was distinguished by the protection of US interests, as well as the desire to reduce world tensions. In his inaugural speech, the president said that he would do everything to promote peace on the planet. But he didn't succeed. Carter's rule was marked by the fact that the United States had aggravated relations with the USSR. He is making progress on agreements on limiting strategic weapons, but all this does not stop the Soviet government from sending troops into Afghanistan. Carter responds by boycotting the Moscow Olympics. Relations are deteriorating. Congress does not ratify the SALT II treaty, and Carter's peacefulness does not find real expression in the country's politics. It was under Carter that a doctrine appeared that declared the right of the United States to protect its interests by any means, including military ones. Ultimately, he was forced to increase spending to maintain the country's defense capability, and this exacerbated the difficult financial situation of the United States.
The President manages to solve the problem of the Egyptian-Israeli conflict over the Sinai Peninsula, but the problems with the Palestinians remained unresolved. He also reached an agreement on the sovereignty of the territory of the Panama Canal.
Carter's biggest foreign policy problem was the complication of relations with Iran. The US has declared that this region is a sphere of their interests, which they are ready to protect. During the Carter period, a revolution takes place there, Ayatollah Khomeini declares the United States "the great Satan" and calls forfight this country. The conflict reached its peak when 60 employees of the American embassy were taken hostage in Tehran. This put an end to Carter's hopes of becoming president for a second time. This sharp conflict with Iran has not ended to this day.
USA under Jimmy Carter
The country expected the new president to solve their problems. A severe energy crisis, a large state budget deficit, inflation - these were tasks that needed to be urgently addressed. Jimmy Carter, the president of the United States, who received the country in a difficult state, tried to overcome the energy dependence of the United States, but the reform program was blocked by Congress. He failed to curb the rise in domestic prices, and this caused serious discontent among the population.
Jimmy Carter's domestic policy was inconsistent and weak, he had many good intentions, he planned to reform the country's social security, wanted to reduce medical costs, but these projects also did not find support in Congress. The idea of a radical transformation of the apparatus of officials, all the more, did not find a proper response and remained a project. Pre-election promises to reduce inflation and reduce unemployment in the country, Carter failed to keep due to the difficult economic situation. And Carter's domestic policy turned out to be of little effect and only aggravated the disdain of voters for him. The media accused Jimmy of helplessness and facelessness, they complained that he could not answerfor most of the time calls.
Attempt
President Jimmy Carter, like many of his colleagues in the White House, did not escape the attack. This incident was not trumpeted by the media, as the security service was able to prevent the shots. For example, in 1979, during the President's trip to California, during a speech to a Latin American audience, an armed attack on the President was planned. But two conspirators were caught in time: Oswaldo Ortiz and Raymond Lee Harvey, who were supposed to make a fuss with pistol blanks in order for the other participants to shoot Carter with a rifle. The names of the conspirators immediately refer to the name of the assassin John F. Kennedy and raise many doubts. Some journalists even accused the president of staging the assassination attempt in order to lure voters to their side. The process did not receive publicity and judicial development, the potential killers were released on bail. And all this was another drop in the patience of voters and political opponents of Carter.
Defeat
Carter's entire presidency is one of mistakes, weaknesses and unresolved problems. Jimmy Carter's policies were not strong, and therefore the defeat of Ronald Reagan was quite expected. The campaign headquarters of the latter very competently took advantage of the hostage situation in Iran, as well as all the miscalculations of the incumbent president. There is a version that George W. Bush, a member of the Reagan team, colluded with Iranian militants, persuading them to hold hostages until theyelection results announced. One way or another, Ronald Reagan's victory was expected, and on January 20, 1981, Jimmy Carter resigned as president and five minutes later the terrorists in Iran released the hostages, who spent 444 days in captivity.
Life after the White House
Loss in the election was a great disappointment for Carter, but he found the strength to return to social activity. After completing his presidential career, Carter plunges into teaching, he became a distinguished professor at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, and wrote a number of books. Later, he opens the Center in his name, which deals with national and international issues of American politics.
Jimmy Carter, whose biography after the presidency returned to the mainstream of ordinary life, found himself in charitable and social activities. He deals with the settlement of various conflicts, the protection of human rights, justice and democracy, and the prevention of the spread of deadly diseases. This activity allowed Carter to realize his ideas about the correct world order, although, of course, he failed to solve all the problems. But among his achievements - a contribution to the establishment of peace in Bosnia, Rwanda, Korea, Haiti, he was an active opponent of air strikes on Serbia. For his peacekeeping activities, 39th US President Jimmy Carter received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002, this is the only case when a retired president receives such a significant award. In addition, Carter was awarded the UNESCO Peace Prize and the Presidential Medalfreedom. His efforts to combat the deadly disease of Africa - dracunculiasis received worldwide recognition. In 2002, Carter became the first senior American to break the official blockade against Cuba and visited the country with peace initiatives. He is a member of the Elders, a community of independent leaders organized by Nelson Mandela. This organization is engaged in the settlement of acute international conflicts, in particular, its members came to Moscow in search of a solution to the problems provoked by the annexation of Crimea to Russia. In 2009, a small airport in Carter's hometown was named after him.
Jimmy Carter became the longest-lived retired US president after the White House. He is also one of the six long-lived former presidents who have reached the age of 90.
Private life
Carter is a very loyal and reliable husband, he married Rosalie Smith, a friend of his youth, back in 1946, and they are still together. Jimmy Carter, whose photo was in every newspaper during the presidency, did not leave his wife when he ascended Olympus. She was with him in every moment of his life. The couple had four children, today they already have several grandchildren. After the Carters left the White House, their family, according to them, began a new honeymoon. Today, the whole family lives together in Plains, Carter's hometown, where he bequeathed to be buried. In 2015, the media began to sound the alarm because of Jimmy's he alth, he was diagnosed with liver cancer. He successfully underwent surgery and chemotherapy and in December 2015 personally told reportersthat he was completely cured.
