Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter : The Georgia Years, 1924-1974

Covering their lives from childhood to the end of the Georgia governorship, Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter is one of the few major biographies of an American president that pays significant attention to the First Lady. So deeply were their lives and aspirations intertwined, a close friend once remarked: "You can't really understand Jimmy Carter unless you know Rosalynn." The story of one is the story of the other. To recount their remarkable lives, E. Stanly Godbold, Jr. draws on academic and military records, the governor's correspondence, the recollections of the Carters themselves, as well as original, unpublished interviews with a wide variety of participants in the Carters' political and personal lives. The book reveals a man who was far more complex than the peanut farmer of popular myth, a man who cited both Reinhold Niebuhr and Bob Dylan as early influences on his legal philosophy, was heir to a sizable fortune, and who, with the help of Rosalynn, built a lucrative agribusiness. Nicknamed "Hotshot" by his father, Carter was the first president born in a hospital, rode a motorcycle before entering politics, counted Tolstoy, Dylan Thomas, William Faulkner, and James Agee among his favorite authors, and claimed his wife Rosalynn as the most influential person in his life. Volume I in this two-volume biography details how the Carters rose to power, managed their private and public lives, governed Georgia, and seized control of the national Democratic party. The cast of colorful characters includes "Miss Allie" Smith, "Mr. Earl" and "Miss Lillian," brother Billy, Rachel Clark, Admiral Rickover, George Wallace, Lester Maddox, Richard Nixon, daughter Amy, Charles Kirbo, Hamilton Jordan, Jody Powell, and many more. It is a sweeping, Faulknerian tale of individuals who would change the image of the South in the national mind and the role of the South in the presidency. Indeed, Carter shocked the state of Georgia and the entire country by calling for an end to racial discrimination in 1971, thus launching his national political career. Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter neither sanctifies nor vilifies the Carters but offers instead an even-handed, brilliantly researched, and utterly absorbing account of two ordinary people whose lives together took them to the heights of power and public service in America. This Dual Biography Of Jimmy And Rosalynn Carter, The Thirty-ninth President Of The United States And His Wife, Chronicles The Unique Political And Business Relationship Of A Couple Who Together Rose From Obscurity To National And International Power. His Life In An Isolated, Prosperous, Locally Powerful, Baptist Farm Family Prepared Him For A Career In Public Service And Business. Rosalynn Came From A More Modest, But Well-connected And Intelligent, Methodist Family In The Town Of Plains. Each Was The Oldest Of Four Children, Ambitious, Eager To Learn, Able To Shoulder Heavy Responsibilities, And Committed To Humanitarian Interests. Together, They Compromised Their Religious And Career Differences, Enjoyed A Short Career In The United States Navy, Built A Small Agribusiness Empire, Plotted Political Strategy, Won The Governorship Of Georgia In 1970, And Announced His Candidacy For President Of The United States On December 12, 1974.^ ^^this Volume, Which Covers The Years From His Birth To The End Of His Governorship, Offers Substantial, Detailed Information About Their Childhoods, Marriage, Personal Lives, Navy Career, Business Success And Entry Into Politics. In A Racially-charged Atmosphere, Carter Won A Contested State Senate Seat In 1962 But Lost The Governor's Race To Lester Maddox In 1966. In 1970 He Won A Stunning Victory Over The Old Georgia Politics, Revealing That Rosalynn Was So Emotionally And Professionally Close To Her Husband That His Career Often Seemed Inseparable From Hers. Carter Shocked The State Of Georgia And The Entire Country With His Statement In 1971 That The Time For Racial Discrimination Was Over, Thus Launching A National Political Race. Godbold's Research Has Spanned Two Decades, Much Of It In Rarely Seen Documents In The Georgia Department Of Archives And History And The Better-known Jimmy Carter Presidential Library, Both In Atlanta.^ ^working From Millions Of Pages Of Primary Sources, He Has Added Contemporary Scholarship, Oral Histories, And New Interviews. From Academic And Military Records, The Governor's Correspondence, The Memories Of The Carters, The Accounts Of Georgia And National Politicians, And Public Documents, This Volume Details How The Carters Rose To Power, Managed Their Private And Public Lives, Governed Georgia, And Seized Control Of The National Democratic Party. It Is A Blueprint For What They Would Do On The National And International Stages After 1975. The Cast Of Characters Ranging From Jimmy, Rosalynn, Miss Allie Smith, Mr. Earl, Miss Lillian, Brother Billy, Rachel Clark, Admiral Rickover, George Wallace, Lester Maddox, Richard Nixon, Baby Amy, Charles Kirbo, Hamilton Jordan, Jody Powell, And Many More Is Set In A True Faulknerian Tale That Has Changed The Image Of The South In The National Mind And The Role Of The South In The Presidency.^ ^the Carters Were Ordinary People Whose Dramatic And Colorful Story Resonates With Human Life, Defeat, Courage, Inspiration, Hope, And Extraordinary Accomplishments-- Machine Generated Contents Note: -- Introduction -- Ch 1: Children Of Georgia -- Ch 2: A Boy In Archery -- Ch 3: A Girl In Plains -- Ch 4: School Years -- Ch 5: Navy Man -- Ch 6: Navy Couple -- Ch 7: The Shadow Of Mr. Earl -- Ch 8: The Emergency Of Rosalynn -- Ch 9: New Campaign -- Ch 10: Politics And Business -- Ch 11: Reach For The Governorship, 1966 -- Ch 12: Born Again, Running Again -- Ch 13: A Conservative Progressive -- Ch 14: A Trace Of Demagoguery -- Ch 15: Enigma And Contradiction -- Ch 16: Georgians At Home -- Ch 17: The Trail Of Martin Luther King, Jr. -- Ch 18: Rosalynn In Power -- Ch 19: Phoenix Rising -- Ch 20: Georgians Abroad -- Ch 21: Jimmy, God, And Fortune. E. Stanly Godbold, Jr. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. "This dual biography of Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter, the thirty-ninth President of the United States and his wife, chronicles the unique political and business relationship of a couple who together rose from obscurity to national and international power. His life in an isolated, prosperous, locally powerful, Baptist farm family prepared him for a career in public service and business. Rosalynn came from a more modest, but well-connected and intelligent, Methodist family in the town of Plains. Each was the oldest of four children, ambitious, eager to learn, able to shoulder heavy responsibilities, and committed to humanitarian interests. Together, they compromised their religious and career differences, enjoyed a short career in the United States Navy, built a small agribusiness empire, plotted political strategy, won the governorship of Georgia in 1970, and announced his candidacy for President of the United States on December 12, 1974. This volume, which covers the years from his birth to the end of his governorship, offers substantial, detailed information about their childhoods, marriage, personal lives, Navy career, business success and entry into politics. In a racially-charged atmosphere, Carter won a contested state senate seat in 1962 but lost the governor's race to Lester Maddox in 1966. In 1970 he won a stunning victory over the old Georgia politics, revealing that Rosalynn was so emotionally and professionally close to her husband that his career often seemed inseparable from hers. Carter shocked the state of Georgia and the entire country with his statement in 1971 that the time for racial discrimination was over, thus launching a national political race. Godbold's research has spanned two decades, much of it in rarely seen documents in the Georgia Department of Archives and History and the better-known Jimmy Carter Presidential Library, both in Atlanta. Working from millions of pages of primary sources, he has added contemporary scholarship, oral histories, and new interviews. From academic and military records, the governor's correspondence, the memories of the Carters, the accounts of Georgia and national politicians, and public documents, this volume details how the Carters rose to power, managed their private and public lives, governed Georgia, and seized control of the national Democratic party. It is a blueprint for what they would do on the national and international stages after 1975. The cast of characters ranging from Jimmy, Rosalynn, Miss Allie Smith, Mr. Earl, Miss Lillian, Brother Billy, Rachel Clark, Admiral Rickover, George Wallace, Lester Maddox, Richard Nixon, Baby Amy, Charles Kirbo, Hamilton Jordan, Jody Powell, and many more is set in a true Faulknerian tale that has changed the image of the South in the national mind and the role of the South in the presidency. The Carters were ordinary people whose dramatic and colorful story resonates with human life, defeat, courage, inspiration, hope, and extraordinary accomplishments"-- Provided by publisher Covering their lives from childhood to the end of the Georgia governorship, is one of the few major biographies of an American president that pays significant attention to the First Lady. So deeply were their lives and aspirations intertwined, a close friend once remarked: "You can't really understand Jimmy Carter unless you know Rosalynn." The story of one is the story of the other. To recount their remarkable lives, E. Stanly Godbold, Jr. draws on academic and military records, the governor's correspondence, the recollections of the Carters themselves, as well as original, unpublished interviews with a wide variety of participants in the Carters' political and personal lives. The book reveals a man who was far more complex than the peanut farmer of popular myth, a man who cited both Reinhold Niebuhr and Bob Dylan as early influences on his legal philosophy, was heir to a sizable fortune, and who, with the help of Rosalynn, built a lucrative agribusiness. Nicknamed "Hotshot" by his father, Carter was the first president born in a hospital, rode a motorcycle before entering politics, counted Tolstoy, Dylan Thomas, William Faulkner, and James Agee among his favorite authors, and claimed his wife Rosalynn as the most influential person in his life. Volume I in this two-volume biography details how the Carters rose to power, managed their private and public lives, governed Georgia, and seized control of the national Democratic party. The cast of colorful characters includes "Miss Allie" Smith, "Mr. Earl" and "Miss Lillian," brother Billy, Rachel Clark, Admiral Rickover, George Wallace, Lester Maddox, Richard Nixon, daughter Amy, Charles Kirbo, Hamilton Jordan, Jody Powell, and many more. It is a sweeping, Faulknerian tale of individuals who would change the image of the South in the national mind and the role of the South in the presidency. Indeed, Carter shocked the state of Georgia and the entire country by calling for an end to racial discrimination in 1971, thus launching his national political career. __Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter__