| Jimmy Carter | |
| |
| United States Senator from Georgia | |
| In office: January 3, 1981 - January 3, 1993 | |
| Preceded by: | Herman E. Talmadge |
| Succeded by: | Zell Miller |
| 76th Governor of Georgia | |
| In office: January 12, 1971 – January 14, 1975 | |
| Preceded by: | Lester Maddox |
| Succeded by: | George Busbee |
| Member of Georgia State Senate from 14th District | |
| In office: January 14, 1963 – 1966 | |
| Preceded by: | New district |
| Succeded by: | Hugh Carter |
| Biography | |
| Born: | October 1, 1924 (age 84)) Plains, Georgia |
| Birth name: | James Earl Carter, Jr. |
| Nationality: | American |
| Political party: | Democratic |
| Spouse: | Rosalynn Smith Carter |
| Children: | John William Carter James Earl Carter III Donnel Jeffrey Carter Amy Lynn Carter |
| Alma mater: | Georgia Southwestern College Union College United States Naval Academy |
| Occupation: | Politician, Farmer (peanuts), naval officer |
| Religion: | Baptist |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance: | United States of America |
| Service/branch: | United States Navy |
| Years of service: | 1946-1953 |
| Unit: | 10th Mountain Division |
| Rank: | Lieutenant |
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. (born October 1, 1924) is an American politician who served as a United States Senator from Georgia (1981–1993), and was the 1976 Democratic Party Nominee for President of the United States. Before he became a senator, Carter served two terms as a Georgia State Senator and one as Governor of Georgia (1971–1975), and was a peanut farmer and naval officer.
Carter took on a variety of initiatives as Governor that made him popular across the state, before announcing his candidacy for president. Emerging as a "dark horse", Carter gained rapid stardom by winning a number of primaries and taking the Democratic Nomination. Despite holding overwhelming initial leads over his Republican opponent, Carter and his running mate were eventually defeated by California Governor Ronald Reagan.
In the aftermath of his loss, Carter returned to politics, winning a senate seat in 1980 and being reelected in 1986. Throughout the remainder of his career he became a champion of education and energy policy reform, co-authoring the National Fuel and Restoration Act of 1983, as well as the Top-Start Educational Advancement Act of 1989.