Known to the world as a human-rights advocate and a leader who paid attention to the pulse of the United States, Jimmy Carter continues to advocate the importance of people over politics on both foreign and domestic fronts. As a president, he attempted to lead his country out of an energy crisis and delivered his famed ‘Malaise’ speech asking the nation to keep confidence in their potential.

Spending more money on social security and cutting the military budget by 6 billion dollars, Carter wanted to make a statement that he cared about the working class citizens of the nation. Furthermore, he promoted diversity and multiculturalism at every level, including appointing those of different ethnic, racial, and religious backgrounds to fill the most prestigious offices in Washington D.C.

As a child, Jimmy was a gifted student. His love for reading has never ceased and he started many national reading campaigns that would boost the literacy of America’s youth. From his father’s business as a peanut farmer in Georgia, the young Carter didn’t go without and received an excellent education. He graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology and received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the United States Naval Academy. Following, at Union college, Carter studied nuclear physics, but had to quit his studies with the death of his father. He then served in the Navy on both coasts. He became a commanding officer, which is talked about in the autobiography of Jimmy Carter entitled Why Not the Best.

A devout Christian his whole life, he was still able to see the root of any debate and break it down to its bare elements. He became more involved in public life and soon began a career serving two terms in the Georgia State Senate. After his service with the Senate, he thought about running for the House of Representatives, but his agricultural business got the best of his time.

After some time away from politics, Carter returned more fervent than ever. He decided to run to become the Governor of Georgia. He then set his sights on becoming the 39 th President of the United States. With the media strongly backing his nomination and eventual candidacy, he would become the first democratic president from the far south in over 100 years. Even with difficulties in office, he became involved in righting the wrongs the US had been involved in abroad. He was involved in trading with China, the Panama Canal Treaties, and the Camp David Accords. He continues to be an outspoken voice of the people in all issues foreign and domestic, and has written nearly 25 books. His continued perseverance won him a nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002.

• John F. Kennedy
• Franklin D. Roosevelt
• Richard Nixon
• Ronald Reagan
• Fidel Castro