Jimmy Carter (born October 1, 1924) was the thirty-ninth
President of the United States, serving from 1977 to 1981, and the
recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize. Prior to becoming
president, Carter served two terms in the Georgia Senate and as the
76th Governor of Georgia, from 1971 to 1975.
Born James Earl Carter, Jr., 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.
Follow this link
for more information on Jimmy Carter
The Local Connection
Just one day after he squared off with President Gerald Ford in a
televised debate, Democratic presidential candidate Jimmy Carter
briefly stopped by Houston on Sept. 24, 1976.
After landing at Hobby Airport, Carter went downtown for an
outdoor rally at Lamar and Main.
Democratic presidential candidate Jimmy Carter, left, with U.S.
Sen. Lloyd Bentsen, D-Texas, in downtown Houston, Sept. 24,
1976.
Joyce Bishop, left, and Sherry Schumann get the lowdown on
Carter's upcoming visit. A few downtown Houston streets doubled as
billboards on Sept. 23, 1976, when Carter backers spray-painted
dozens of messages announcing his Houston visit. A Houston Post
article said the Carter campaign "chalked them up as 'the work of a
couple of overenthusiastic volunteers". City officials were not
amused and mulled imposing fines on those responsible.
Several thousand packed Lamar Avenue to hear Carter's noontime
speech.
Carter supporters jam downtown streets.
Carter wades through crowds of supporters in downtown
Houston.
Carter at Houston's Hobby Airport.
A Houston family takes a picture of Carter's plane at Hobby
Airport.
The Cache
The cache is placed in downtown Houston in the area where this
rally occurred. While here, take a moment to look around and
imagine yourself standing in the midst of history.
This is a pretty easy magnetic container to find if you're
looking in the right place. However, the difficulty rating is high
because getting good satellite readings among the buildings here
can be problematic.
This cache placed by a
Member
Come visit our website.
|