Jimmy Carter was the 39th President of the United States and remarkably enough, he was the first president to be born in a hospital. His father was a farmer and a businessman and those were initially the steps that Carter was going to take as well. After attending college for a couple of years, however, Carter decided to join the U.S. Navy and from there he got into politics. Here are some interesting facts about this man who had some big accomplishments, but some interesting liabilities as well.
1. Iran Was His Downfall
When the hostages were taken in Iran in 1979, Carter’s inability to negotiate the release became one of his biggest political liabilities. Some believe that the entire incident was staged because of how the diplomatic staff ended up being released. Iran released the hostages on January 20, 1981, which was the day after Ronald Reagan’s inauguration.
2. He Became a Professor
Many presidents go on to speaking tours after they get out of office, but not Jimmy Carter. In 1982, he was hired as a professor at Emory University in Atlanta. This is the same year that he also established the Carter Center. The initiatives of the Carter Center include seeking international peace, finding ways to fight diseases of the Third World, and being an independent monitor for international elections. One of the great accomplishments of the Carter Center is their fight against Guinea worm disease, which has been reduced to just 200 cases per year from the 3 million that were documented 1986.
3. Uncensored and Live
The United States has had a trade embargo with Cuba for over five decades. Some believe that this is had a devastating effect on the Cuban economy. Carter has that belief and in 2002, he gave a speech that outlined his vision that would improve relationships between the two countries that are just a small stretch of sea apart from each other. It is one of the few times that a current or former president was broadcast live on Cuban state television without censorship.
4. It’s a Racial Thing
Jimmy Carter has always been a man that is willing to speak his mind. This is helped him broker peace agreements that others have been unable to succeed at it, but this trait has also caused a fair share of controversy. In 2009, Carter told NBC in an interview that most of the analog directed towards President Barack Obama is based on the fact that he’s an African American and that people are concerned about the color of his skin.
5. A Presence in North Korea
Jimmy Carter has successfully negotiated talks in North Korea twice. The first was to negotiate the release of a US citizen who had been imprisoned after illegally entering the country in 2010. Carter was able to negotiate an amnesty for him so that he could return home. The second visit was designed to help ease tensions between North and South Korea and he was accompanied by three other former heads of state from around the world.
6. A Hobbyist
Jimmy Carter had more talents than just being president, in played basketball, ran track, and played tennis all throughout highschool. After highschool he took up a plethora of hobbies including billiards, hunting, motorcyles, and was an avid reader.
Jimmy Carter may have only been a one term president, but he has made an impact on the world today in the years after. These interesting facts about this man who strives for peace is just a small sampling of who he really is as a person.
