Former President Jimmy Carter

James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. was President of the United States from 1977 to 1981, and the Nobel Peace Laureate of 2002. In addition, President Carter received the Albert Schweitzer Prize for Humanitarianism. A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, Carter served two terms in the Georgia Senate, and was the 76th Governor of Georgia from 1971 to 1975.

Carter's presidency saw the creation of two cabinet-level departments: the Department of Energy and the Department of Education. He established a national energy policy, removed price controls from domestic petroleum production, and advocated for less American reliance on foreign oil. He bolstered the Social Security system by introducing a staggered increase in the payroll tax. In foreign affairs, Carter pursued the Camp David Accords (a historic peace agreement between Israel and Egypt) the Panama Canal Treaties, and the second round of the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks. He made human rights a critical component of American foreign policy. The final year of his term was dominated by the Iran hostage crisis, during which the United States struggled to rescue American citizens held hostage in Tehran.

Since leaving the presidency, Carter has been active in a variety of national and international public policy, conflict resolution, human rights and charitable causes. He established the Carter Center in 1982 to advance human rights and alleviate human suffering. The Center promotes democracy, mediates and prevents conflicts, and monitors elections to prove their fairness. The Center also works to improve global health through the control and eradication of diseases such as Guinea worm disease, malaria, trachoma, lymphatic filariasis, and schistosomiasis. A major accomplishment of the Carter Center has been the virtual eradication of Guinea worm disease. He and his wife are well-known for their work with Habitat for Humanity, a program that helps poor people to afford their first home.

Carter has authored more than 23 books ranging from children stories to comments about modern Christianity and world historical novels.