Jimmy Carter served as the 39th President of the United States from 1977 to 1981. During his presidency, he aimed to make the government "competent and compassionate," responsive to the American people and their expectations. His administration faced challenges such as rising energy costs, mounting inflation, and continuing tensions. Despite these challenges, Carter achieved notable accomplishments during his presidency, including:
- Pardoning all Vietnam War draft evaders in his second day in office
- Creating a national energy policy that included conservation, price control, and new technology
- Successfully pursuing the Camp David Accords, the Panama Canal Treaties, and the second round of Strategic Arms Limitation Talks
- Establishing the U.S. Department of Energy and the Department of Education
- Championing human rights throughout the world
Carter also worked to combat the continuing economic woes of inflation and unemployment, and by the end of his administration, he could claim an increase of nearly eight million jobs and a decrease in the budget deficit. However, inflation and interest rates were at near record highs, and efforts to reduce them caused a short recession.
After leaving the presidency, Carter established the Carter Center to promote and expand human rights, earning him a Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. He traveled extensively to conduct peace negotiations, monitor elections, and further the eradication of infectious diseases. Carter also became a University Distinguished Professor at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, and with Rosalynn Carter founded The Carter Center, which addresses national and international issues of public policy.
In summary, Jimmy Carter accomplished a lot during his presidency, including creating a national energy policy, pursuing important foreign policy initiatives, and championing human rights. He continued to work towards these goals after leaving office through the Carter Center.