Jimmy Carter aspired to make Government "competent and compassionate,"
responsive to the American people and their expectations. His achievements were
notable, but in an era of rising energy costs, mounting inflation, and
continuing tensions, it was impossible for his administration to meet these
high expectations. 

Carter, who has rarely used his full name--James Earl Carter, Jr.--was born
October 1, 1924, in Plains, Georgia. Peanut farming, talk of politics, and
devotion to the Baptist faith were mainstays of his upbringing. Upon graduation
in 1946 from the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, Carter married Rosalynn
Smith. The Carters have three sons, John William (Jack), James Earl III (Chip),
Donnel Jeffrey (Jeff), and a daughter, Amy Lynn. 

After seven years' service as a naval officer, Carter returned to Plains. In
1962 he entered state politics, and eight years later he was elected Governor
of Georgia. Among the new young southern governors, he attracted attention by
emphasizing ecology, efficiency in government, and the removal of racial
barriers. 

Carter announced his candidacy for President in December 1974 and began a
two-year campaign that gradually gained momentum. At the Democratic Convention,
he was nominated on the first ballot. He chose Senator Walter F. Mondale of
Minnesota as his running mate. Carter campaigned hard against President Gerald
R. Ford, debating with him three times. Carter won by 297 electoral votes to
241 for Ford. 

Carter worked hard to combat the continuing economic woes of inflation and
unemployment. By the end of his administration, he could claim an increase of
nearly eight million jobs and a decrease in the budget deficit, measured in
percentage of the gross national product. Unfortunately, inflation and interest
rates were at near record highs, and efforts to reduce them caused a short
recession. 

Carter could point to a number of achievements in domestic affairs. He dealt
with the energy shortage by establishing a national energy policy and by
decontrolling domestic petroleum prices to stimulate production. He prompted
Government efficiency through civil service reform and proceeded with
deregulation of the trucking and airline industries. He sought to improve the
environment. His expansion of the national park system included protection of
103 million acres of Alaskan lands. To increase human and social services, he
created the Department of Education, bolstered the Social Security system, and
appointed record numbers of women, blacks, and Hispanics to Government jobs. 

In foreign affairs, Carter set his own style. His championing of human rights
was coldly received by the Soviet Union and some other nations. In the Middle
East, through the Camp David agreement of 1978, he helped bring amity between
Egypt and Israel. He succeeded in obtaining ratification of the Panama Canal
treaties. Building upon the work of predecessors, he established full
diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China and completed
negotiation of the SALT II nuclear limitation treaty with the Soviet Union. 

There were serious setbacks, however. The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan caused
the suspension of plans for ratification of the SALT II pact. The seizure as
hostages of the U. S. embassy staff in Iran dominated the news during the last
14 months of the administration. The consequences of Iran's holding Americans
captive, together with continuing inflation at home, contributed to Carter's
defeat in 1980. Even then, he continued the difficult negotiations over the
hostages. Iran finally released the 52 Americans the same day Carter left
office.