Atlanta, Georgia – When President Jimmy Carter returned to his hometown of Plains, Georgia in 1981, he was met with defeat and rejection by voters in a landslide election to Republican Ronald Reagan. The pouring rain at Carter’s welcome home reception reflected his gloomy mood and that of the country.
In the eyes of many, Carter’s presidency was a political failure. He faced challenges such as the Iran hostage crisis, rising inflation, and oil embargoes in the 1970s, which ultimately led to his defeat in the 1980 election. However, as we celebrate his 100th birthday, it is time to reevaluate his legacy and recognize his accomplishments as a one-term U.S. president.
Author and historian Jonathan Alter, who has studied Carter’s life extensively, acknowledges that while he may have been a political failure, he was a substantive and visionary success. Alter recognizes Carter for his humanitarian work with the Carter Center, which focuses on “waging peace, fighting disease, and building hope” around the world. This work led to Carter receiving the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize.
One of Carter’s most notable achievements as president was his role in the Camp David Accords and opening relations with China. However, as Alter points out, his list of accomplishments as president goes far beyond these well-known events. Carter also had a long string of legislative accomplishments, particularly in the areas of environmental protection and other domestic issues. In fact, Alter argues that Carter’s legislative achievements surpassed those of both Barack Obama and Bill Clinton.
One of Carter’s most significant environmental accomplishments was the signing of the 1980 Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act. This legislation protected over 100 million acres of land, including national parks, refuges, monuments, forests, and conservation areas. Today, it is considered one of the most important pieces of environmental legislation ever passed.
Emory University’s first “Jimmy Carter Professor of History,” Joseph Crespino, also recognizes Carter’s many achievements as president. Crespino had the opportunity to discuss Carter’s presidency with the former president himself, as he routinely visited Crespino and his students in Atlanta to reflect on his time in office. According to Crespino, Carter will be remembered as a president who served during difficult times and had to navigate circumstances that were beyond his control.
One of Carter’s most significant contributions to American foreign policy was his emphasis on human rights. He made it a priority to put human rights at the forefront of American foreign policy, something that had not been done before. This had a significant impact on shifting the balance of power during the Cold War and reaffirming America’s moral responsibilities in the aftermath of the Vietnam War.
Crespino also highlights some of Carter’s overlooked domestic accomplishments, such as reorganizing the federal government and deregulating the airline, trucking, and beer industries. These actions were significant in promoting a free enterprise economy, something that is often associated with the conservative turn that came with Ronald Reagan’s presidency. However, as Crespino points out, Carter had already begun this work before Reagan took office.
Carter’s long life has allowed him to witness the longer lens of history reflect more positively on his legacy. Members of his Cabinet, including former United Nations Ambassador Andrew Young, are grateful for this. According to Young, there is no place in the world where people do not have good things to say about Carter. Despite any perceived failures, Young believes that Carter gave it his all and went as far as the world would let him go.
The world continues to benefit from Carter’s work through the Carter Center, which focuses on various humanitarian efforts, including fighting diseases like Guinea worm. Thanks to the center’s work, the number of Guinea worm cases in Africa has significantly decreased, and it could become only the second disease ever to be eradicated.
As we celebrate Jimmy Carter’s 100th birthday, let us remember him not just as a political figure, but as a humanitarian and visionary leader. His accomplishments as president may have been overshadowed by his failures, but as we look back on his life and legacy, it is clear that he was a man who worked hard and made a positive impact in the world. Happy birthday, President Carter.
