Jimmy Carter on Power and God

"The fact that a person has deep religious convictions doesn't necessarily mean that that person always thinks that he's right, that God's ordained him to take a dominant position" - Jimmy Carter in May 1976, six months before he was elected President.

Originally aired on WNET's Bill Moyers Journal on PBS

We loved uncovering this interview with Jimmy Carter talking about his humble upbringings and vision for America under his watch. He talks the impact of God and religion in his path to public service, experiencing with world while in the Navy, missing the final years of his father's life, and the true meaning of helping people overcome injustice in all forms.

Follow this with our episode featuring the man who would defeat him four years later, Ronald Reagan.

Learn more about Jimmy Carter, the 39th President of the United States:

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Credits

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
David Gerlach

ANIMATOR
Patrick Smith

PRODUCER
Amy Drozdowska

COLORIST
Jennifer Yoo

Music
"Another Version Of You" Chris Zabriskie

"Chunk of Lawn" Jahzzar

"Gramaphone" Jahzzar

Help us caption & translate this video!

[andykilbride]

He may not have had the most effective administration, but you can tell he meant so well and genuinely cared about making a difference. We could really use that

[J_cobra]

My professor once said about Carter, “He wasn’t a good President but he is definitely an awesome human being.” I can see it now, as he’s going into his late 90s and still going strong with his humanitarian efforts and just overall an honest human beinng. God bless this man!

[PogieJoe]

Carter was an underrated president. He's still awesome to this day.

[TheGuitarVirt]

We need more men and women like jimmy carter in leadership.

[TheThriceIsRight]

So well spoken
Reminds me of my grandmother, the way she speaks, maybe it's something with the generation

[saintnicole]

My mom grew up when he was in office. I know he wasn’t the most effective president, but he had so much good in his heart, you could tell that he just wanted to do the right thing for his country. I love Jimmy Carter.

[Hoonters-goona-Hoont]

I am German, and I only know about Carter because our history teacher felt like telling us about him, and how he was too ahead of his own time, a bit too unrealistic but nevertheless good-natured in his aspirations. As far as I heard, he was not viewed in such a favourable light by his fellow Americans, is that true?

[UnPureMaddness]

I wish we could have can interviews like this today

[harrisondunn]

I would love to hear a blank on blank with Richard Nixon

[AphroditeArisen]

Recently, I heard he’s in hospice. I hope he lives out the rest of his days as comfortably as he can surrounded by love. God bless this beautiful soul. God bless his wife Rosalynn who recently passed away. May they reconnect in the afterlife. ❤

[robertogutierrez]

JImmy Carter has been the most honest and moral POTUS of my lifetime. If he was running for office today, I would vote for him without hesitation. Does it say something about our political system that the presidents who seem to be the most effective (or at least perceived as such) are the ones that are master manipulators who seem to lack a moral compass?

[newworldoldproblems]

Being a good Christian politician in American, a lost art form...

[garcalej]

It wasn't that Carter was a bad person. He was a conscientious, compassionate leader with a strong moral compass. But he lacked the stomach for the job; more importantly he lacked the nerve to stand up to the likes of Tip'O Neill, the Soviets, and to the Iranian leadership. Granted, some things were out of his control; perhaps if that Delta team hadn't crashed in the desert and carried out a successful mission, we would remember him more kindly. But a lot of other bad things happened on his watch that his administration was just too inept to deal with. Still, I'd take him over the current occupant anyday.

[chuckefunn]

Carter as a person was the one of the greatest

[therealmrmago]

this guy is 96 and still dedicating his life to humanitarian work mad respect he is what ever Christian should strive to be and that's coming from a non religious person

[marcobb]

I Would Love to watch something of Chomsky, the father of the modern linguistic

[goofygoober]

Who’s here in 2024? Also Jimmy Carter is still alive in hospice

[sforsterification]

These animations are amazing. Very well crafted and thought through. They really bring the interview to life in an interesting and memorable way.

[stuvs]

Prescient!
-Thank you, Patrick and the B on B gang.

[mohammadm]

I think someone like Christopher Hitchens will be great for this.