On Friday we drove two miles outside of downtown Atlanta, past some very older, elegant homes, to the Carter Center. The Jimmy Carter Presidential Museum and Library is part of the Center's campus. The Carter Center is a not-for-profit organization founded in 1982 by Jimmy Carter, in partnership with Emory University, that seeks to prevent and resolve conflicts, enhance freedom and democracy, and improve health. Former president Carter envisioned it as a Camp David for countries to work toward peace.
The Jimmy Carter Museum and Library is separate from the Center in that it is part of the Presidential Libraries System administered by the National Archives and Records Administration. We both came away with the feeling that while it was nice, it was not as large as other presidential libraries we have been to, hence there were not as many exhibits and information to view.
We had visited his hometown of Plains several years ago so much of his boyhood and growing up years was review for us. We did learn that Jimmy's father was a strict segregationist while his mother believed all people were equal. He followed his mother's views.
Carter was accepted to the Naval Academy in 1943. A long career as a naval officer seemed to be his life path. Shortly after graduating from the academy in 1946 he married Rosalynn Smith, a friend of his sister's, who also was from Plains. He was personally chosen by Admiral Hyman Rickover, the "father of the nuclear Navy" for duty.
But his father's death in 1953 set Carter on a new path. He returned to Plains to take over the family peanut farm. (after living in Hawaii, California and New York, Rosalynn was less than enthusiastic about settling back in Plains).
His first political office held was Sumter County School Board, where he began to speak in favor of integration. In 1962 he ran for the Georgia state senate, an election he won after proving voting fraud when he was initially declared the loser. His first run at the governorship of Georgia in 1966 ended in defeat. His run in 1970 was successful and he became the 76th governor of Georgia. He declared in his inaugural address that "the time of racial segregation was over. No poor, rural, weal, or black person should ever again have to bear the additional burden of being deprived of the opportunity for an education, a job or simple justice." This was not the prevailing culture in Georgia at the time. And it was from this position that he launched his presidential campaign in 1975.
It was interesting to be reminded of his "come out of nowhere" victory in the 1976 election to become the 39th president of the United States. "I remember that first reception we had in Des Moines. Four people came." His campaign was called The Peanut Brigade. He was Jimmy, not James, and he appealed to the common man. His smile was a caricature's delight. He also benefited from the country's disgust with the Watergate scandal, and Gerald Ford's pardoning of Nixon when he took office.
The energy crisis of the late 70's was a main focus of Carter's presidency. The library had a quote on the energy situation from The Ludington Daily News! We are not sure if this is OUR Ludington but we smiled when we saw it.
Interesting areas in the museum were A Day in the Life of the President. a section on major social issues during the 4 years of his presidency and the exhibits on the energy crisis, Camp David and the hostage crisis.
Carter's presidency will probably be remembered for those last 2 things: the Camp David Accords which brought a peace treaty between Israel and Egypt and the Americans taken hostage in Iran. Carter worked tirelessly to secure the release of the 66 hostages, which occurred the day he left office.
Mike says he should also be given some credit for the economic recovery under Reagan as many of the policies were put into place by Carter's administration
It can be argued that Jimmy and Rosalynn have done more in their post-presidential years than when they occupied the White House. Rosalynn continues her advocacy for mental health awareness and treatment. They have embraced the work of Habitat for Humanity and spend a week every year helping to build a Habitat house. The couple from Plains travels the world on behalf of the work of the Carter Center: global health, monitoring elections, and supporting human rights. Carter was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. It has been said that Jimmy and Rosalynn have done more good for more people around the world than any other couple. And he still teaches Sunday School at his church in Plains 40 weeks a year. Quite a legacy.
Since it was only 2 miles away, we went to the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site after leaving the Carter Library. (we are retired so we like free, which this was.) The building is near King's boyhood home and across the street from the Ebenezer Baptist Church, where he grew up under the preaching of his grandfather and father. The visitor center had videos and exhibits which chronicled King's life and his rightful place in the Civil Rights Movement. It is hard, having never experienced segregation, or living in the south, to comprehend the violence and treatment of blacks over the years. The videos and still pictures were stark examples. King's non-violent approach (based on Gandhi's life) of using boycotts and marches were highlighted. The entire site went far deeper than the "I Have A Dream" speech on the Lincoln Memorial that we all associate with MLK.
In fact, I was struck by one of his challenges - "what are you doing to help others?" A good question for us all.
After leaving here, I suggested we visit author Margaret Mitchell's house, a must-see for anyone who loves Gone With the Wind. Obviously, the person driving the car (Mike) is not a GWTW buff because we didn't make it there. Fiddle-dee-dee.
From left: Anwar Sadat, Jimmy Carter, Menachem Begin
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