Jimmy Carter: the record

Jimmy. The 39th president, 1977-1981, from Georgia. Every story here is tagged Record, meaning it’s documented, or Legend, meaning it gets told a lot and doesn’t hold up. Each one links to its source.

President: 39th
In office: 1977-1981
Home state: Georgia
Party: Democratic
Height: 5'9½"

The record

RecordCarter ran cross-country at the Naval Academy and kept running as president, jogging several miles most days. He told Sports Illustrated he could do two miles in about 15 minutes.Source: White House Historical Association, Jimmy Carter and Sports
RecordIn 1978 Carter kept Israel's Menachem Begin and Egypt's Anwar Sadat at Camp David for 13 days. He wrote and rewrote the same peace framework about two dozen times, carrying it back and forth himself, until both signed.Source: Miller Center, Carter: Foreign Affairs
RecordMost Americans opposed giving the Panama Canal back to Panama. Carter pushed the treaties anyway, and the Senate passed both 68 to 32, one vote more than the two-thirds it needed.Source: U.S. Senate, Senate Leaders and the Panama Canal Treaties
RecordAfter the White House, Carter spent decades building houses with Habitat for Humanity, and not just for photos. He worked the build sites himself, year after year, into his 90s.Source: Habitat for Humanity, Carter Work Project Through the Years
RecordCarter's real sport as president wasn't golf. It was softball, and he played hard, against staff, reporters and the Secret Service.Source: White House Historical Association, Jimmy Carter and Sports

What he cared about

Human rights as the center of foreign policy, even cutting aid to allies over repression.
Energy independence. He created the Department of Energy and pushed conservation.
Peace in the Middle East, which led to the Camp David Accords.

How he fights in POTUS KO

Distance runner, submarine officer, peanut farmer

Carter was a distance runner who won by outlasting people, 13 days at Camp David and one vote on Panama. In the ring he moves, jabs and waits for you to tire.

See POTUS KO

Questions about Jimmy Carter

Did Jimmy Carter build houses for Habitat for Humanity?

After the White House, Carter spent decades building houses with Habitat for Humanity, and not just for photos. He worked the build sites himself, year after year, into his 90s.

What happened at Camp David in 1978?

In 1978 Carter kept Israel's Menachem Begin and Egypt's Anwar Sadat at Camp David for 13 days. He wrote and rewrote the same peace framework about two dozen times, carrying it back and forth himself, until both signed.

What sport did Jimmy Carter play as president?

Carter's real sport as president wasn't golf. It was softball, and he played hard, against staff, reporters and the Secret Service.