Jimmy Carter rabbit incident facts for kids
The Jimmy Carter rabbit incident was a funny and unusual event that happened to Jimmy Carter when he was the President of the United States. On April 20, 1979, a swamp rabbit swam right up to his fishing boat! The news media later called it a "killer rabbit attack," which made the story even more famous.
The incident became popular in the news after Carter's press secretary, Jody Powell, told a reporter about it a few months later.
Contents
What Happened?
A President's Fishing Trip
On April 20, 1979, President Jimmy Carter was enjoying a quiet fishing trip near his hometown of Plains, Georgia. He was alone in a small, flat-bottomed boat, while his staff stayed on land nearby. It was a peaceful day until something unexpected happened.
The Swimming Rabbit
President Carter later explained that a rabbit, being chased by hunting dogs, suddenly jumped into the water. To his surprise, the rabbit started swimming directly toward his boat! As the rabbit got very close, President Carter used his paddle to splash some water at it, trying to make it go away.
Staff Don't Believe It
When President Carter returned to his office, he told his staff about the swimming rabbit. They found it hard to believe! They thought rabbits couldn't swim, or that a rabbit would never come so close to a person in a threatening way. However, a photographer from the White House had taken a picture of the event. This photo was later shared with the public, proving the President's unusual story.
Images for kids
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Close up of rabbit cropped from White House photo
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See also
In Spanish: Incidente del conejo para niños
