Eleanor Rosalynn Smith Carter (born August 18, 1927), commonly known as
Rosalynn Carter, is the wife of the former
President of the United StatesThe President of the United States is the head of state and head of government of the United States and is the highest political official in the United States by influence and recognition...
Jimmy CarterJames Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. served as the 39th President of the United States from 1977 to 1981 and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
, and in that capacity served as the
First Lady of the United StatesFirst Lady of the United States is the title of the hostess of the White House. Because this position is traditionally filled by the wife of the President of the United States, the title is most often applied to the wife of a sitting president...
from 1977 to 1981. As First Lady and after, she was a leading advocate for numerous causes, perhaps most prominently for
mental healthMental health is a term used to describe either a level of cognitive or emotional well-being or an absence of a mental disorder. From perspectives of the discipline of positive psychology or holism mental health may include an individual's ability to enjoy life and procure a balance between life...
research. She was politically active in her
White HouseThe White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the President of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., it was built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the late Georgian style and has been the residence of every...
years as her husband's closest adviser as well, and sat in on Cabinet and policy meetings. She also served as an envoy abroad, most prominently to
Latin AmericaLatin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish, Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,501 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
.
Early life
Eleanor Rosalynn Smith was born in
Plains, GeorgiaPlains is a city in Sumter County, Georgia, United States. The population was 637 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Americus Micropolitan Statistical Area.- History :...
, the eldest of the four children of Frances Allethea Murray (1905–1997), a
dressmakerA dressmaker is a person who makes custom clothing for women, such as dresses, blouses, and evening gowns. Also called a mantua-maker or a modiste.-History of dressmaking:...
, and Wilburn Edgar Smith (1896–1940), an automobile mechanic and
farmerA farmer is a person who raises living organisms for food or raw materials.- Definition :The term farmer usually applies to a person who grows field crops, and/or manages orchards or vineyards, or raises livestock or poultry such as chicken and cows...
. Her brothers were William Jerrold "Jerry" Smith (engineer, 1929–2003) and Murray Lee Smith (teacher and minister, 1932–2003) and her sister is Lillian Allethea Smith Wall (born 1936).
Her father died of
leukemiaLeukemia is a cancer of the blood or bone marrow and is characterized by an abnormal proliferation of blood cells, usually white blood cells . Leukemia is a broad term covering a spectrum of diseases...
when she was 13, and she helped her mother raise her younger siblings as well as assist her dressmaking in order to meet the family's financial needs. She graduated as
valedictorianValedictorian is an academic title typically conferred in North America upon the highest ranked student among those being graduated from an educational institution. The term is an anglicized derivation of the Latin vale dicere , historically rooted in the valedictorian's traditional role as the...
of Plains High School and then attended Georgia Southwestern College, but later dropped out.
Marriage and family
Although their families were acquainted, Rosalynn Smith first dated
Jimmy CarterJames Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. served as the 39th President of the United States from 1977 to 1981 and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
in 1945 while he was at the
United States Naval AcademyThe United States Naval Academy is an undergraduate college in Annapolis, Maryland, United States, that educates and commissions officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps. The Academy often is referred to simply as "Annapolis". It is also called "The Academy", "The Boat School", or "Canoe...
at Annapolis. On July 7, 1946, they married in Plains.
The couple has four children: John William "Jack" (born 1947), James Earl "Chip" III (born 1950), Donnel Jeffrey "Jeff" (born 1952), and
Amy LynnAmy Lynn Carter is the youngest of the four children and the only daughter of U.S. president Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalynn Carter.-Early life:...
(born 1967). The first three were born in different parts of the country and away from Georgia, due to her husband's military duties.
In 1953, after her husband left the Navy, she helped him run the family
peanutThe peanut, or groundnut , is a species in the legume family native to South America, Mexico and Central America. It is an annual herbaceous plant growing 30 to 50 cm tall...
farming and warehousing business, handling the accounting responsibilities. Since 1962, the year Jimmy Carter was elected to the Georgia State Senate, she has been active in the political arena.
First Lady of Georgia
After helping her husband win the governorship of
GeorgiaGeorgia is a state in the United States. One of the original Thirteen Colonies that revolted against British rule in the American Revolution, it had been the last of the Thirteen Colonies to be established, in 1733. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January...
in 1970, Mrs. Carter decided to focus her attention as First Lady of Georgia on the field of
mental healthMental health is a term used to describe either a level of cognitive or emotional well-being or an absence of a mental disorder. From perspectives of the discipline of positive psychology or holism mental health may include an individual's ability to enjoy life and procure a balance between life...
. Her husband appointed her to the Governor's Commission to Improve Services for the Mentally and Emotionally Handicapped. Many of the Commission's recommendations were approved and became law. She also served as a volunteer at the Georgia Regional Hospital in
Atlanta, GeorgiaAtlanta is the capital and most populous city in the state of Georgia, as well as the urban core of one of the fastest-growing metropolitan areas in the United States....
and for four years was honorary chairperson for the Georgia
Special OlympicsSpecial Olympics is an international organization created to two years, alternating between Summer and Winter Games. There are also local, national and regional competitons in over 150 countries worldwide.-History:...
.
Campaigning
In January 1975, when her husband's gubernatorial term was over, Governor Carter, along with his wife and daughter, went back to Plains. He had already announced his plans to run for President of the United States. Rosalynn returned to the campaign trail, this time in a national quest for support for her husband. She campaigned alone on his behalf in 41 states.
During the months she was campaigning across the country, Rosalynn was elected to the board of directors of the National Association of Mental Health, she was honored by the
National Organization for WomenThe National Organization for Women is the largest feminist organization in the United States. It was founded in 1966 and has a membership of 500,000 contributing members and 5987 chapters in all 50 U.S...
with an Award of Merit for her vigorous support for the
Equal Rights AmendmentThe Equal Rights Amendment was a proposed amendment to the United States Constitution which was intended to guarantee that equal rights under any federal, state, or local law could not be denied on account of sex...
, and she received the Volunteer of the Year Award from the Southwestern Association of Volunteer Services.
First Lady of the United States
In January 1977, Rosalynn and Jimmy Carter walked hand-in-hand down
Pennsylvania AvenuePennsylvania Avenue is a street in Washington, D.C. joining the White House and the United States Capitol. Called "America's Main Street", it is the location of official parades and processions, as well as protest marches and civilian protests...
during his presidential inauguration parade. For the inaugural balls, she wore the same gown she had worn six years earlier at the balls in Atlanta when her husband became governor.
During the Carter Administration, she supported her husband's public policies as well as his social and personal life. To be fully informed, she would sit in on Cabinet meetings, at the invitation of President Carter. She represented him in meetings with domestic and foreign leaders, most notably as an envoy to
Latin AmericaLatin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish, Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,501 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
in 1977. She also led a
delegationDelegation is the assignment of authority and responsibility to another person to carry out specific activities. However the person who delegated the work remains accountable for the outcome of the delegated work. Delegation empowers a subordinate to make decisions, i.e...
to
ThailandThe Kingdom of Thailand is an independent country that lies in the heart of Southeast Asia.It is bordered to the north by Laos and Burma, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the west by the Andaman Sea and Burma...
in 1979 to address the problems of
CambodiaThe Kingdom of Cambodia , formerly known as Kampuchea , is a country in South East Asia with a population of over 14 million people. The kingdom's capital and largest city is Phnom Penh...
n and
LaotianLaos , officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic, is the only landlocked country in Southeast Asia, bordered by Burma and People's Republic of China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the south and Thailand to the west...
refugees. Helping the refugees, particularly the children, became a special cause for her. When the cultural exchange program
Friendship Force InternationalFriendship Force International was launched on March 1, 1977, at the White House by President Jimmy Carter. First Lady Rosalynn Carter served as Honorary Chairperson until 2002...
was launched at the White House on March 1, 1977, she became honorary chairperson, a title she held until 2002.
She served as an active honorary chair of the President's Commission on Mental Health. On behalf of the Mental Health System Bill, enacted in 1980, she testified before a Senate committee. The only
First LadyFirst Lady or First Gentlemanis the unofficial title used in some countries for the spouse of an elected head of state. In the United States, it is also used for the spouse of the governor.-Origin:...
who had previously appeared before
CongressThe United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States of America, consisting of two houses, the Senate and the House of Representatives. Both senators and representatives are chosen through direct election....
was
Mrs. Eleanor RooseveltAnna Eleanor Roosevelt was the First Lady of the United States from 1933 to 1945. She supported the New Deal policies of her husband, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and assumed a role as an advocate for civil rights...
. Mrs. Carter also was a strong proponent of the
Equal Rights AmendmentThe Equal Rights Amendment was a proposed amendment to the United States Constitution which was intended to guarantee that equal rights under any federal, state, or local law could not be denied on account of sex...
.
She oversaw her family at the
White HouseThe White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the President of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., it was built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the late Georgian style and has been the residence of every...
. Her daughter,
AmyAmy Lynn Carter is the youngest of the four children and the only daughter of U.S. president Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalynn Carter.-Early life:...
, who was nine years old, attracted much public attention. The two youngest sons, Chip and Jeff, and their families, also lived in the
White HouseThe White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the President of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., it was built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the late Georgian style and has been the residence of every...
. Other members of the family, including son Jack and his wife and children, were frequent visitors.
Rosalynn Carter's Secret Service codename is "Dancer".
The Carter Center
After leaving the
White HouseThe White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the President of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., it was built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the late Georgian style and has been the residence of every...
in 1981, Rosalynn Carter, like her husband, has continued a very active life. In 1982, she co-founded The Carter Center, a private, not-for-profit institution based in
Atlanta, GeorgiaAtlanta is the capital and most populous city in the state of Georgia, as well as the urban core of one of the fastest-growing metropolitan areas in the United States....
. She is a member of the Center's Board of Trustees and participates in many of the Center's programs. but gives special attention to the Mental Health Program.
Mental health advocacy
She created and chairs The Carter Center Mental Health Task Force, an advisory board of experts, consumers, and advocates promoting positive change in the
mental health fieldMental health is a term used to describe either a level of cognitive or emotional well-being or an absence of a mental disorder. From perspectives of the discipline of positive psychology or holism mental health may include an individual's ability to enjoy life and procure a balance between life...
. She hosts the annual Rosalynn Carter Symposium on Mental Health Policy, bringing together nationwide leaders in the
mental health fieldMental health is a term used to describe either a level of cognitive or emotional well-being or an absence of a mental disorder. From perspectives of the discipline of positive psychology or holism mental health may include an individual's ability to enjoy life and procure a balance between life...
.
In April 1984, she was made an Honorary Fellow of the
American Psychiatric AssociationThe American Psychiatric Association is the main professional organization of psychiatrists and trainee psychiatrists in the United States, and the most influential worldwide. Its some 38,000 members are mainly American but some are international...
and is also board member emeritus of the National Mental Health Association.
The Rosalynn Carter Fellowships for Mental Health Journalism provide stipends to
journalistsJournalism is the craft of conveying news, descriptive material and comment via a widening spectrum of media. These include newspapers, magazines, radio and television, the internet and even, more recently, the mobile phone...
to report on topics related to
mental healthMental health is a term used to describe either a level of cognitive or emotional well-being or an absence of a mental disorder. From perspectives of the discipline of positive psychology or holism mental health may include an individual's ability to enjoy life and procure a balance between life...
or
mental illnessA mental disorder or mental illness is a psychological or behavioral pattern that occurs in an individual and is thought to cause distress or disability that is not expected as part of normal development or culture. The recognition and understanding of mental disorders has changed over time and...
es. The one-year fellowships seek to promote public awareness of mental health issues as well as erase the stigma associated with them.
In 2007, she joined with David Wellstone, son of the late U.S. Senator
Paul WellstonePaul David Wellstone was a two-term U.S. Senator from the state of Minnesota and member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, which is affiliated with the national Democratic Party. Before being elected to the Senate in 1990, he was a professor of political science at Carleton College...
, to push
CongressThe United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States of America, consisting of two houses, the Senate and the House of Representatives. Both senators and representatives are chosen through direct election....
to pass legislation regarding mental health insurance. Wellstone and Carter are working to pass the "Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act" which would require equal coverage of mental and physical illnesses when policies include both types of coverage; both testified before a House subcommittee regarding the bill in July 2007.
Legislation requiring parity in
health insuranceHealth insurance is insurance that pays for medical expenses. It is sometimes used more broadly to include insurance covering disability or long-term nursing or custodial care needs. It may be provided through a government-sponsored social insurance program, or from private insurance companies...
coverage for treatment of
mental illnessA mental disorder or mental illness is a psychological or behavioral pattern that occurs in an individual and is thought to cause distress or disability that is not expected as part of normal development or culture. The recognition and understanding of mental disorders has changed over time and...
es was ultimately passed and signed into law in October 2008.
Rosalynn Carter Institute
Mrs. Carter is president of the board of directors for the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving (RCI) at
Georgia Southwestern State UniversityGeorgia Southwestern State University in Americus, Georgia, is a school in the University System of Georgia.- Pre 1960s :Georgia Southwestern State University, a four-year unit of the University System of Georgia, was founded in 1906 as the Third Agricultural and Mechanical School...
, her alma mater, in
Americus, GeorgiaAmericus is a city in Sumter County, Georgia, United States. The population was 17,013 at the 2000 census. Americus is the home of Habitat for Humanity International's international headquarters, the famous Windsor Hotel , Fuller Center for Housing international headquarters, The Rosalynn Carter...
. The RCI was established in 1987 and works to address issues related to caregiving in America. The Institute focuses its work on both family and professional caregivers for individuals living with chronic illness and disabilities, limitations related to aging, and other health concerns.
Advocacy for women and children
In 1988, Carter convened with three other former first ladies—
Betty FordElizabeth Anne "Betty" Bloomer Ford is the widow of former United States President Gerald R. Ford and served as the First Lady of the United States from 1974 to 1977. As first lady, Betty Ford was active in social policy and shattered precedents as a politically active presidential wife...
,
Lady Bird JohnsonClaudia Alta "Lady Bird" Taylor Johnson was First Lady of the United States from 1963 to 1969 during the presidency of her husband Lyndon B. Johnson. Throughout her life, she was an advocate for beautification of the nation's cities and highways and conservation of natural resources and she made...
, and
Pat NixonThelma Catherine "Pat" Ryan Nixon was the wife of Richard Nixon, 37th President of the United States, and was First Lady of the United States from 1969 to 1974. She was commonly known as Pat Nixon....
—the "Women and the Constitution" conference at The Carter Center to assess that document's impact on women. It featured over 150 speakers and 1500 attendees from all 50 states and 10 foreign countries.
She served on the Policy Advisory Board of The Atlanta Project (TAP) of The Carter Center addressing social ills associated with
povertyPoverty is the condition of lacking basic human needs such as nutrition, clean water, health care, clothing, and shelter because of the inability to afford them. This is also referred to as absolute poverty or destitution...
and quality of life citywide.
In 1991, she launched
Every Child By TwoEvery Child By Two is a non-profit health advocacy organization, based in the United States and founded in 1991, dedicated to protecting children from diseases through promotion of vaccinations and raising parental awareness of potential vaccine benefits...
, a nationwide campaign to increase early childhood immunizations along with Betty Bumpers, wife of former U.S. Senator
Dale BumpersDale Leon Bumpers is an American politician who served as Governor of Arkansas from 1971 to 1975; and then in the United States Senate from 1975 until his retirement in January 1999. He is a member of the Democratic Party. Senator Bumpers is currently counsel at the Washington, D.C...
of
ArkansasArkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquin name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares a border with six states, with its eastern border largely defined by the Mississippi River. Its diverse geography ranges from the mountainous regions of the...
. Carter serves as President of the organization and Bumpers as Vice-President.
She serves on the board of advisors for Habitat for Humanity and as honorary chair of Project Interconnections, both of which work to provide housing for the needy.
Books
Mrs. Carter has written four books:
- First Lady from Plains (autobiography), 1984, ISBN 1-5572-8355-9
- Everything to Gain: Making the Most of the Rest of Your Life (with Jimmy Carter), 1987, ISBN 1-5572-8388-5
- Helping Yourself Help Others: A Book for Caregivers (with Susan K. Golant), 1994, ISBN 0-8129-2591-2
- Helping Someone with Mental Illness: A Compassionate Guide for Family, Friends, and Caregivers (with Susan K. Golant), 1998, ISBN 0-8129-2898-9
Awards and honors
On October 5, 2002, Rosalynn Carter was inducted into the
National Women's Hall of FameThe National Women's Hall of Fame was created in 1969 by a group of people in Seneca Falls, New York, the location of the 1848 Women's Rights Convention...
in
Seneca FallsSeneca Falls refers to a town and a village in Seneca County, New York:* Seneca Falls , New York* Seneca Falls , New York* The Seneca Falls Convention, often called the birthplace of the American women's rights movement...
,
New YorkNew York is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States and is the nation's third most populous. The state is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. She was only the third First Lady ever inducted into the Hall of Fame, joining
Abigail AdamsAbigail Adams was the wife of John Adams, who was the second President of the United States, and the mother of John Quincy Adams, the sixth...
and
Eleanor RooseveltAnna Eleanor Roosevelt was the First Lady of the United States from 1933 to 1945. She supported the New Deal policies of her husband, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and assumed a role as an advocate for civil rights...
.
In 1999, she and her husband received the
Presidential Medal of FreedomThe Presidential Medal of Freedom is a decoration bestowed by the President of the United States and is, along with theequivalent Congressional Gold Medal bestowed by an act of U.S. Congress, the highest civilian award in the U.S...
, America's highest civilian honor.
Among her many other awards for service are:
- Dorothea Dix Award, Mental Illness Foundation, 1988
- Georgia Woman of the Year Award, 1996
- Jefferson Award, American Institute for Public Service, 1996
- United Nations Children's Fund International Child Survival Award, 1999
- Rhoda and Bernard Sarnat International Prize in Mental Health, Institute of Medicine, 2000
- United States Surgeon General's Medallion, 2000
She has received honorary degrees from the following institutions:
- H.H.D., Tift College
Tift College was a private liberal arts women's college located in Forsyth, Georgia. Its campus was situated 20 miles outside of Macon. Tift College merged with Mercer University in 1986 and was closed by Mercer in 1987....
, 1979
- L.H.D.
The degree of Doctor of Humane Letters is always conferred as an honorary degree, usually to those who have distinguished themselves in areas other than science , government , literature or religion The degree of Doctor of Humane Letters is always conferred as an honorary...
, Morehouse CollegeMorehouse College is a private, all-male, historically black college located in Atlanta, Georgia. It is one of four remaining traditional men's colleges in the United States, and a member of the Black Ivy League....
, 1980
- D.P.S., Wesleyan College
Wesleyan College is a private, liberal arts women's college located in Macon, Georgia.-History:The school was chartered on December 23, 1836 as the Georgia Female College, and opened its doors to students on January 7, 1839. It is the oldest school which was established from inception as a...
, 1986
- LL.D.
Doctor of Laws is a doctoral degree in law. The application of the term varies from country to country, and includes degree such as the LL.D., Ph.D., Dr. iur., D.C.L., and S.J.D. or J.S.D...
, University of Notre DameThe University of Notre Dame du Lac is a private Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, Indiana, USA....
, 1987
- D.Litt.
Doctor of Letters is a university academic degree.In the United Kingdom, Australia, India and certain other countries, the degree is a higher doctorate, above the Doctor of Philosophy , and is issued on the basis of a long record of research and publication. The degree D.Litt...
, Emory UniversityEmory University is a private research university in the metropolitan area of Atlanta in unincorporated Dekalb County, Georgia. In addition to its three undergraduate divisions, Emory has nine graduate and professional schools, including schools of business, law, medicine, theology, nursing, and...
, 1991
- L.H.D., Georgia Southwestern State University
Georgia Southwestern State University in Americus, Georgia, is a school in the University System of Georgia.- Pre 1960s :Georgia Southwestern State University, a four-year unit of the University System of Georgia, was founded in 1906 as the Third Agricultural and Mechanical School...
, 2001
- LL.D., Regis College
Regis College is a Roman Catholic liberal arts and sciences college located in Weston, Massachusetts. Founded as a women’s college in 1927, Regis became co-educational in 2007.-History:...
, 2002
She served as distinguished centennial lecturer at
Agnes Scott CollegeAgnes Scott College is a private liberal arts women's college in Decatur, Georgia, near Atlanta. The college currently enrolls 914 students. Agnes Scott is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church . The undergraduate school offers 30 majors and 25 minors. Students who graduate from Agnes Scott...
in
Decatur, GeorgiaDecatur is a city in, and county seat of, DeKalb County, Georgia, United States. With a population of 18,147 in the 2000 census, the city is sometimes assumed to be larger since multiple zip codes in unincorporated DeKalb County bear the Decatur name...
, from 1988 to 1992. She has been a Distinguished Fellow at the
Emory UniversityEmory University is a private research university in the metropolitan area of Atlanta in unincorporated Dekalb County, Georgia. In addition to its three undergraduate divisions, Emory has nine graduate and professional schools, including schools of business, law, medicine, theology, nursing, and...
Department of
Women's StudiesWomen's studies is an interdisciplinary academic field devoted to topics concerning women, feminism, gender, and politics. It often includes feminist theory, women's history Women's studies is an interdisciplinary academic field devoted to topics concerning women, feminism, gender, and politics. ...
in Atlanta since 1990.
External links