Jimmy Carter

Who He Is

Jimmy Carter was the 39th President of the United States, serving from 1977 to 1981, and one of the most remarkable examples in American history of a life dedicated entirely to public service. Born in 1924 in Plains, Georgia, he grew up on a peanut farm without running water or electricity, the son of a farmer and a nurse. He attended the U.S. Naval Academy, served as a submarine officer, and returned home to Georgia after his father's death to run the family farm. From there, he entered local politics, serving in the Georgia State Senate and as Governor of Georgia before winning the presidency in 1976. After leaving the White House, Carter built what many consider the most impactful post-presidency in American history. For decades, he volunteered with Habitat for Humanity, personally helping to build homes for families in need, and founded the Carter Center, an organization that has monitored elections in more than 100 countries and helped eliminate diseases affecting millions of people worldwide. He continued working well into his nineties, even after a cancer diagnosis, and passed away in 2024 at the age of 100.

Why He Matters

Jimmy Carter's life is one of the clearest illustrations that public service does not begin and end with holding office. He came from one of the humblest backgrounds of any modern president, never lost touch with where he started, and spent the decades after the White House doing some of the most meaningful work of his life, building houses, promoting peace, and fighting disease in the world's most vulnerable communities. His career shows young people that the measure of a public servant is not the title they hold but what they actually do for others. Carter was not without critics during his presidency, but his character, his humility, and his lifelong commitment to doing good earned him deep respect across the political spectrum and around the world.