American Legends

*Includes pictures *Includes Carter's own quotes about his life and career *Includes online resources and a bibliography for further reading *Includes a table of contents "I have experienced the intensity of patriotism as a submarine officer, the ambitions of a competitive businessman, and the intensity of political debate. I have been sorely tempted to launch a military attack on foreigners, and have felt the frustration of having to negotiate with allies or even former enemies to reach a consensus instead of taking more decisive unilateral action." - Jimmy Carter A lot of ink has been spilled covering the lives of history's most influential figures, but how much of the forest is lost for the trees? In Charles River Editors' American Legends series, readers can get caught up to speed on the lives of America's most important men and women in the time it takes to finish a commute, while learning interesting facts long forgotten or never known. When Americans elected Jimmy Carter in 1976, they seem to have wanted an ideal more than a man. The tragedies surrounding Vietnam and the scandal of Watergate, culminating in Richard Nixon's resignation, had left the public bruised and disillusioned. They wanted someone they could believe in, someone like themselves, or at least like they wanted to be. They believed they found that man in Carter. However, they soon learned that, while they had voted for an ideal, they had gotten a man, with all the virtues and faults, loves and hates, of any other human being, and by the end of his presidency, man had turned on him with the viciousness of disappointed children lashing out at a flawed parent. Carter's rise to the nation's top office was unique; he was known somewhat humorously for being a Georgia peanut farmer, and his family often made headlines (particularly his brother Billy), but he rode dissatisfaction with President Nixon and his successor Gerald Ford to become president. From there, he was a notorious micromanager who presided over some of the decade's most important events, from the Camp David Peace Accords to the Iranian Revolution. Carter's presidency still receives rather mixed reviews, but it's possible that his political career has actually been obscured by his post-presidential work and the ways in which he has changed the roles of previous living presidents. After starting the Carter Center in 1982, Carter has remained a champion of human rights and has become one of America's most visible dignitaries, traveling all over the world to promote various causes. Eventually, he earned a Nobel Peace Prize for his work in 2002, and he has remained active even after turning 90 and after recently being diagnosed with cancer. Like his presidency, Carter's advocacy has not been without controversy, but he remains one of America's most recognizable figures. American Legends: The Life of Jimmy Carter examines the life and legacy of the 39th president of the United States. Along with pictures of important people, places, and events, you will learn about Jimmy Carter like never before, in no time at all.