Celebrating Jimmy Carter's Legacy: Understanding the Presidential Commission on Mental Health
On December 29th, 2024, Jimmy Carter, the 39th president of the United States, died in Plains, Georgia, at the age of 100. President Joe Biden declared January 9th, 2025, a National Day of Mourning in honor of Carter. President Carter left a legacy as a strong supporter of equality in the South and a humanitarian with a global vision. Below, explore Jimmy Carter's life, political career, and economic and social development accomplishments.
The life and origins of President Jimmy Carter in Plains, Georgia
James Earl Carter was born in Plains, Georgia, on October 1st, 1924. He was the child of Lillian Gordy Carter, a nurse and eventual Peace Corps volunteer, and Earl Carter, a peanut farmer who served in the Georgia legislature. Jimmy Carter first studied at Georgia Southwestern College and Georgia Institute of Technology and then moved on to the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland, where he graduated in 1946.
Naval service
Jimmy Carter served as a submariner in the U.S. Navy for seven years. He left active duty in 1953 as a lieutenant and remained as a reservist until 1961. The USS Jimmy Carter, a Seawolf-class submarine, is named after him, as is Carter Hall at the U.S. Naval Academy.
Road to the White House as the 39th president
Jimmy Carter’s political career began when he served on his local board of education. In 1962, Carter won a seat in the Georgia State Senate and was reelected in 1964. Two years later, he ran for governor but lost. However, he ran again and won in 1970. During his service as governor, he worked to end discrimination in government by opening up positions to African Americans and women.
Later, Carter announced he would run for the Democratic nomination for president in 1976. He selected Senator Walter F. Mondale of Minnesota to run with him as a candidate for vice president. Carter ran against President Gerald R. Ford, who became president after the resignation of Richard Nixon. Carter and Mondale won the election, receiving 51% of the popular vote and taking 297 electoral college votes to Ford’s 241.
Challenges and achievements as president: A story of peace, liberty, and triumph
As president, Carter faced several challenges, including high inflation and interest rates. However, the United States added approximately eight million jobs during his term and reduced the federal budget deficit. Carter also established a national energy policy and decontrolled domestic petroleum prices to solve the nation’s energy shortage.
Carter ran for reelection but lost to Ronald Reagan in 1980. The challenges at home and abroad, including high interest rates, high inflation, and high unemployment, made his re-election bid challenging. He also faced the Iranian hostage crisis in which more than 50 American diplomats and the American Embassy were taken hostage in Teheran. The hostages were held for 444 days and weren’t released until the day that Carter left office.
The Nobel Peace Prize, The Carter Center, and The Carter Library
Carter was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. The Nobel Prize organization states that Carter “was awarded the Peace Prize for undertaking peace negotiations, campaigning for human rights, and working for social welfare. According to the Chairman of the Nobel Committee, Carter ought to have been awarded the Prize as early as 1978, when he successfully mediated a peace agreement between Egypt and Israel.”
The work of Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter in peacemaking and humanitarian aid is also evident in the work of the Carter Center. The center aims to alleviate human suffering and fight for human rights worldwide. The Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum provides information on Jimmy Carter's work and legacy. Visitors can learn about the president's life through a visit to the replica of the Oval Office and an exhibit about the pivotal Camp David Meetings.
Mental health support
In some cases, when a public servant passes, their death can spark memories of painful situations from the past. Some people may remember loved ones they have lost, which can lead to challenging emotions. When this happens, speaking with a friend, a loved one, or a licensed mental health professional can be helpful. One doesn’t have to have a mental illness to benefit from talking to a therapist. A therapist may be able to help with temporary emotional challenges that arise during a time of transition or loss.
Finding support online
For some people, in-person therapy may not be possible if they live in an area with few therapists. Other people may not be comfortable with traditional in-office therapy. However, there is still support available through online therapy. With online therapy platforms like BetterHelp, people can choose from various communication options, including audio, video, or live chat. They can also reach out to their therapist at any time through in-app messaging, and the therapist will reply as soon as they can. With this option, individuals facing emotional challenges don’t have to wait until their next session to express their feelings.
Some people may wonder if the literature supports the effectiveness of online therapy. Over the past decade, many researchers have studied online therapy and found it to be effective. One review from 2017 found that online cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) was effective in treating symptoms of several disorders, including depression, social anxiety disorder, bipolar disorder, and adjustment disorder. The latter may occur as individuals go through a significant transition or loss.
Takeaway
Frequently asked questions
Below are some common questions about Jimmy Carter, his life, and his legacy.
What can you see at the Jimmy Carter Library?
The Jimmy Carter Library and Museum features a life-size replica of the Oval Office and a replica of the Crown of St. Stephen. Hungary gave the original crown to the United States at the end of World War II to protect it from the Soviet Union. It was returned to Hungary in 1978.
What was the success of the 39th president, Jimmy Carter, of Plains, Georgia?
The Jimmy Carter administration made human rights a core part of foreign policy decision-making. The administration also completed the process of normalizing diplomatic relations with China.
What were the Camp David Accords, and did they bring peace and liberty?
According to the Office of the Historian, the “Camp David Accords, signed by President Jimmy Carter, Egyptian President Anwar Sadat, and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin in September 1978, established a framework for a historic peace treaty concluded between Israel and Egypt in March 1979.” This was an important step for peace in the Middle East at the time.
When was the Carter Center founded by President Jimmy Carter?
The Carter Center was founded in 1982 by Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter. Since then, the center has helped improve people's lives in over 80 countries.
Was Jimmy Carter a Democrat or Republican?
James Earl Carter Jr., also known as Jimmy Carter, represented the democratic party in his time as president of the federal government. He aimed to advance democracy in advancing human rights through actions like his Moral Equivalent to War televised speech, the Panama Canal treaties, energy conservation efforts through the comprehensive energy program, and his ability to find peaceful solutions to promote economic success between countries like East Timor and North Korea and resolve international conflicts. He is often seen as having caused the turning point in American political history regarding full diplomatic relations with other countries and was inspired by figures like Martin Luther King, Jr. Many people see him as a true democrat to the People’s Republic.
What was Jimmy Carter's slogan?
When Carter first ran for president in Atlanta, his slogan was, “My name is Jimmy Carter, and I’m running for president.” Before running for president, he was working on a nuclear submarine project. He went into politics after his father died and won his first election in Washington DC against running mate Gerald Ford of the republican party. Carter returned to the election for a second term but lost the election to the Reagan administration, who received two-thirds of the vote despite Carter’s tenure. At one point during the election, he also had a slogan that read, “Let the candidate of your choice support you for a change.” The American people continue to honor his legacy, and three sons survive him. Former first lady Rosalynn Carter, a registered nurse and Carter’s wife, has also passed.
What ended Jimmy Carter's presidency?
Jimmy Carter served one term in office but had a landslide defeat to Ronald Reagan in the 1980 election. Although winning a Nobel Peace Prize initially made many positive changes for the American people, his last 12 months of presidency made him unpopular with voters and cabinet members. He could not get the popular vote on the first ballot count, and the numbers were already too skewed to allow him to win.
How did Jimmy Carter rank as president?
Political scientists have rated Jimmy Carter’s presidency below average because of some of the mistakes he made in office and some of the events occurring during that time. In a 2021 survey, he was rated 26th of 44 presidents.
Who defeated Jimmy Carter?
Ronald Reagan defeated Jimmy Carter in the 1980 election. Reagan received 489 electoral votes, whereas Jimmy Carter only received 49.
Why did Jimmy Carter fail?
Jimmy Carter is said to have failed to gain a second term because of the energy crisis around 1980 and the recession that followed shortly after. He attempted to reform the country’s social welfare systems majorly. Still, he failed to do so, partly because the democratic party was not open to supporting some of his efforts, and his bills were often denied. He was not as popular with government officials as he was with general US citizens, though his legacy lives on through his many programs, non-profit organizations, and support laws that were passed to improve international relations and life in the US.
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