Jimmy Carter Interview: His Unlikely Rise to Power & Presidential Legacy

President Jimmy Carter recalls the influence of his parents, growing up in the deep South during segregation, and his childhood ambition to be a successful naval officer. He discusses his unlikely presidential win, being labeled an outsider, and how he handled disappointment after not being re-elected.

James Earl Carter Jr., 39th President of the United States, was born October 1, 1924, in the small farming town of Plains, Georgia, and grew up in the nearby community of Archery. He was educated in the public school of Plains, attended Georgia Southwestern College and the Georgia Institute of Technology, and received a B.S. degree from the United States Naval Academy in 1946. In the Navy he became a submariner, serving in both the Atlantic and Pacific fleets and rising to the rank of lieutenant. Chosen by Admiral Hyman Rickover for the nuclear submarine program, he was assigned to Schenectady, New York, where he took graduate work at Union College in reactor technology and nuclear physics and served as senior officer of the pre-commissioning crew of the Seawolf, the second nuclear submarine. On July 7, 1946, he married Rosalynn Smith. They had four children. When his father died in 1953, he resigned his naval commission and returned with his family to Georgia. He took over the Carter farms, and he and Rosalynn operated Carter’s Warehouse, a general-purpose seed and farm supply company in Plains. In 1962 he won election to the Georgia Senate. He lost his first gubernatorial campaign in 1966, but won the next election, becoming Georgia’s 76th governor on January 12, 1971. He was the Democratic National Committee campaign chairman for the 1974 congressional and gubernatorial elections. He won his party’s nomination on the first ballot at the 1976 Democratic National Convention, and was elected president on November 2, 1976. He served as president from January 20, 1977 to January 20, 1981. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 “for his decades of untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development.”

Jimmy Carter, 39th U.S. President
Interviewed By: Hugh Sidey
Interview Date: September 27, 1996

Chapter Markers:
An Independent Cast of Mind (0:35)
Human Rights (4:12)
Defining President Carter (5:04)
A Third Party (5:47)
Influence of FDR & His Father (7:12)
His Childhood (8:50)
His Mother's Influence (10:20)
A Happy Childhood (11:43)
Military Man (12:09)
Moving into Politics (14:47)
Religion & Faith (16:13)
Running for President (17:53)
The Campaign Trail (19:44)
The Perception of Being a Southerner (21:50)
Winning the White House (22:37)
Harry S. Truman (26:52)
Being Honest to the American People (27:46)
Worst & Best Moments in the White House (28:32)
Limitations & Criticisms of Being a President (30:24)
The Idea of a Six Year Term (33:11)
His Legacy & Changes He Would Have Made (35:43)
Most Important Qualities of a President (42:22)
Continuing Human Rights Programs (42:49)
Priorities of a President (44:03)

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[kaymuldoon]

President Carter is one of my heroes. May his last days be full of peace and joy. 💙💙💙

[Momoeki]

Jimmy Carter was too moral and honest to be president. So much respect for this man

[bradyfry]

To think he's almost 100, Carter is definitely one of the more under appreciated presidents in America's history

[hreedytrees]

I’m Egyptian, and honestly people like president carter shaped my mind about America as a country of integrity and progress, this image has been changed dramatically recently but I still respect this man

[TT_]

A man and President ahead of his time in many ways. He was laughed at for putting solar panels on the roof of the Oval office, nearly 50 years ago now, (which Reagan removed) but the world needs his policies today more than ever and the world of politics needs his integrity today more than ever.

[jonathantaylor]

President Carter is a great man, a man who could always be trusted, a man of great integrity and moral judgement, and, along with Lincoln, one of my favorite presidents. And as time has shown, he is absolutely our greatest ex-president ever, with the work of the Carter Center, his hands-on approach to building houses for people with Habitats For Humanity, and dozens of other causes that I can think of. God bless President Carter!

[thomaschacko]

My first presidential vote was in 1976 — for Jimmy Carter. My second, in 1980, was also for him! I remain proud of that!

President Carter approached each task with focus, dedication, faith, and integrity. Furthermore, he had the country’s long-term interests at heart — his energy program being a prime example. He left an excellent record of achievement, on both the domestic and international fronts. The notion that he was a great ex-president, but a failed president is an empty cliche, parroted by those with hollow heads and no sense of history!

Mr President, thank you for coming our way. The country was all the better for it!

[brianclough]

Here's hoping and praying for you Jimmy to reach 100 and be the first President to do so. Already the longest lived President Just celebrated your 99th birthday 3 days ago. 1 more year to go Jimmy! Trivia for you guys, Carter is the only President sworn in with his nickname, not his full name - James Earl Carter. And how apt for a man, who did not seek the glory and limelight and tried to be as normal an American as he could.

[downlowe]

Jimmy Carter is and was a great President, like many he had difficulties domestically and at times abroad, yet he always conducted himself with the highest moral standards, compassion, empathy, and honesty. As President his acts were great yet as an ex president and citizen he has accomplished so many great things for so many through his charitable works. The respect for others and especially his childhood conduct with his African American friends during Jim Crow and segregation (let alone integration) serve as a shining example of how our nation should treat ALL of its citizens. We need MORE people like him and similarly responsible people to LEAD us to our “better angels”. Thank you sir for all you do and have done for our great nation!

[robertryan]

I have complete respect for any person who lives by such high moral and ethical standards as he does. Boy, we could sure use more like him in DC these days.

[richardsimms]

Mr Carter is a model for us all.
RS. Canada

[Debaucherousgeek]

He is the best example of an actual SAINT the U.S. has ever given birth to. He showed the world what a true Christian is. All about charity and kindness. Doing good for those less fortunate than you. Kindness to all regardless of race, nationality, gender identity!! I DESPISE so many current politicians that claim to be Christian. God does NOT know them. I will WEEP when he closes his eyes for the last time. ALL "Americans" should. He is the best of us!!

[clifforddriver]

Mr, Carter could flash that smile intermittently like nobody I've ever seen in my life, to stress a point.

[justmyopinion]

Thank you for sharing this video. President Carter is one of my favorite CICs. He is compassionate, honest and moral. A good man.

[lenduren]

A man of honesty, integrity, guide by his faith. May his last days be respected by all.

[pauldudley]

Like the nation, I have grown more and more in appreciation of President Carter.

[clifforddriver]

A man built starting with character one of the best human beings to ever walk this planet. America in 1979, had the chance to reflect the best man whoever held the office of President of the United States. The country chose Ronald Reagan, who started America on the course that unfortunately we find ourselves on in the year of 2023.

[Benjifan]

I feel honored to have been alive at the same time as such an amazing person.

[FKINoop]

I have great respect for President Carter. He is a decent, honest, intelligent and religious man. He is the type of person that I would ask for advice if I was facing a complex difficulty. I always liked his mischievous smile which is infectious. Given the many problems in today’s world, we need people like him more than ever.

[connieverbeck]

Thank you Mr. President. Salute! God bless you and your family. You will always be my hero!