Rosalynn Carter facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rosalynn Carter
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Official portrait, 1977
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| First Lady of the United States | |
| In role January 20, 1977 – January 20, 1981 |
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| President | Jimmy Carter |
| Preceded by | Betty Ford |
| Succeeded by | Nancy Reagan |
| First Lady of Georgia | |
| In role January 12, 1971 – January 14, 1975 |
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| Governor | Jimmy Carter |
| Preceded by | Hattie Cox |
| Succeeded by | Mary Busbee |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Eleanor Rosalynn Smith
August 18, 1927 Plains, Georgia, U.S. |
| Died | November 19, 2023 (aged 96) Plains, Georgia, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 4, including Jack and Amy |
| Education | Georgia Southwestern College |
| Signature |  |
Eleanor Rosalynn Carter (roh-ZƏ-lin; née Smith; August 18, 1927 – November 19, 2023) was an American writer and activist. She served as the First Lady from 1977 to 1981. She was married to President Jimmy Carter. For many years, she was a strong supporter of many causes, especially mental health.
Rosalynn Carter was born and grew up in Plains, Georgia. She was the best student in her class at Plains High School. After that, she went to Georgia Southwestern College and finished in 1946. She liked Jimmy Carter after seeing his picture in his U.S. Naval Academy uniform. They got married in 1946. Rosalynn helped her husband become the governor of Georgia in 1970. As Georgia's First Lady, she focused on mental health. She also helped her husband win the 1976 election to become president. He beat the president at the time, Gerald Ford.
During her husband's time as president, Rosalynn Carter was very involved in politics. She said she did not want to be a traditional First Lady. She supported her husband's policies and his personal life. She even sat in on Cabinet meetings to stay informed. President Carter invited her to these meetings. She also met with leaders from other countries for her husband. For example, she went to Latin America in 1977. President Carter saw her as an equal partner. She campaigned for him when he tried to be re-elected in 1980. However, he lost to Ronald Reagan.
After leaving the White House in 1981, Rosalynn Carter kept working for mental health and other causes. She also wrote several books. She and her husband helped expand Habitat for Humanity, which builds homes for people. She was the second-longest-living First Lady, after Bess Truman. She was also the longest-married First Lady. She and her husband received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1999. Rosalynn Carter passed away on November 19, 2023. This was two days after she started hospice care.
Contents
Early Life and Family
Growing Up in Plains
Eleanor Rosalynn Smith was born on August 18, 1927, in Plains, Georgia. She was the oldest of four children. Her father, Wilburn Edgar Smith, was an auto mechanic, bus driver, and farmer. Her mother, Frances Allethea "Allie" Murray Smith, was a teacher, dressmaker, and postal worker. Rosalynn was named after her grandmother, Rosa Wise Murray.
Her family did not have much money. But Rosalynn later said she and her siblings did not know they were poor. She said, "neither did anyone else, so as far as we knew, we were well off." Churches and schools were important in her community. Everyone in Plains knew each other. Rosalynn played with boys when she was young because no girls her age lived on her street. She liked drawing buildings and was interested in airplanes. She thought she would become an architect.
Family Challenges and Education
Rosalynn's father died from leukemia in 1940. She was thirteen years old. She said losing her father was the end of her childhood. After that, she helped her mother raise her younger brothers and sister. She also helped with the dressmaking business to earn money for the family. Rosalynn said her mother taught her to be independent. She learned that "you can do what you have to do." At Plains High School, Rosalynn worked hard to go to college. She graduated as the second-best student in her class. Soon after, she went to Georgia Southwestern College and graduated in 1946.
Marriage to Jimmy Carter
Rosalynn first dated Jimmy Carter in 1945. He was attending the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis. She liked him after seeing his picture in his uniform. Jimmy surprised Rosalynn by kissing her in a car. This was the first time she had allowed a boy to kiss her on a first date. Rosalynn agreed to marry Jimmy in February 1946. They kept their plans a secret. Rosalynn was worried about telling her mother she chose marriage over more schooling. They married on July 7, 1946, in Plains. Because of her marriage, Rosalynn canceled her plans to study interior design at Georgia State College for Women.
The couple had four children: John William "Jack" (born 1947), James Earl "Chip" III (born 1950), Donnel Jeffrey "Jeff" (born 1952), and Amy Lynn (born 1967).
Political Journey
First Lady of Georgia
After helping her husband win the governor's race in 1970, Rosalynn focused on mental health. She became a member of the Governor's Commission to Improve Services for the Mentally and Emotionally Handicapped. Many of their ideas became law. In August 1971, she visited mental health centers across Georgia. She said her work for children with mental disabilities was her proudest achievement as First Lady of Georgia.
Rosalynn also volunteered at the Georgia Regional Hospital in Atlanta. For four years, she was the honorary chairperson for the Georgia Special Olympics. Her work on social issues made her highly respected in health care. She also hosted many dinners at the Governor's Mansion.
1976 Presidential Campaign
When her husband's term as governor ended in January 1975, the Carters returned to Plains. Jimmy had decided to run for President. Rosalynn campaigned for him across the country. She traveled alone to 41 states. Because her husband was not well-known, she often had to answer, "Jimmy who?" She spoke about creating more daycare centers and helping the elderly.
During her campaign travels, she joined the board of the National Association of Mental Health. She also received an award from the National Organization for Women for supporting the Equal Rights Amendment. She was named Volunteer of the Year by another group.
Rosalynn was in the balcony at Madison Square Garden when her husband was nominated for president. She was very nervous until Ohio announced its votes for him. After the election, the Carters met with President Ford and First Lady Betty Ford. Betty Ford became a role model for Rosalynn.
First Lady of the United States (1977–1981)
Key Actions and Focus
When her husband became president in January 1977, Rosalynn and Jimmy Carter walked hand-in-hand down Pennsylvania Avenue. She wore the same dress to the inauguration balls that she had worn six years earlier.
Rosalynn said she did not want to be a traditional First Lady. She supported her husband's policies and his personal life. She sat in on Cabinet meetings to stay informed. She took notes but did not speak. She explained, "I was there to be informed so that when I traveled across the country... I'd know what was going on." She became honorary chairperson of the Friendship Force International program. She also supported the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA).
For Christmas 1977, she decorated the White House tree with ornaments made from pine cones, peanuts, and egg shells. In July 1978, she hosted a seminar on unemployment. She remembered 1979 and 1980 as years of "never-ending crises."
Rosalynn faced criticism for her active role. Some said she was too "programmed." But Rosalynn was happy to be a demanding First Lady. She wanted to change the idea that presidents' wives were only "official hostesses." She also collected American paintings for the White House.
Mental Health Advocacy
In March 1977, Rosalynn gave her first interview as First Lady. She shared her mental health goals. She wanted everyone who needed mental health care to get it close to home. She also wanted to remove the shame from mental health care. She wanted people to feel free to talk about it and get help.
Rosalynn Carter was an active honorary chair of the President's Commission on Mental Health. She spoke before a Senate committee for the Mental Health System Bill. This made her the second First Lady to speak before Congress. Mental health was her top priority. She wanted to change how the government helped people with mental illness. She wanted people to feel comfortable admitting their disabilities.
Influence and Travels
After two years as First Lady, Time magazine called her the "second most powerful person in the United States." Her husband often called her an equal partner. He said she was a "perfect extension of myself." Rosalynn said she argued with him about policies. But she denied influencing his major decisions. She believed a First Lady could influence others by talking about issues.
Rosalynn represented President Carter in meetings with leaders. She was an envoy to Latin America in 1977. President Carter said leaders relied on her to understand their feelings. She met with Brazilian leaders to discuss human rights. She also met with Stefan Wyszyński in Warsaw.
She led the American group to the inauguration of Rodrigo Carazo Odio in Costa Rica in 1978. In August 1978, she led the American group to the funeral of Pope Paul VI in Rome.
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In 1979, she led a group to Thailand to help Cambodian and Laotian refugees. She visited camps and saw their suffering. Helping the refugees, especially children, became very important to her. She returned to the U.S. and helped get aid for them.
Life in the White House
Rosalynn Carter was the first First Lady to have her own office in the East Wing. She also managed her family at the White House. Her daughter, Amy, received a lot of public attention. Her two youngest sons, Chip and Jeff, and their families also lived in the White House. Other family members visited often. Rosalynn Carter's Secret Service codename was "Dancer."
She later said she loved living in Washington. She liked being close to power and part of the political system.
1980 Presidential Campaign
President Carter faced a challenge from Ted Kennedy for re-election. Rosalynn helped campaign for her husband. She believed Kennedy hurt the Democratic Party by not helping enough in the general election. She said, "He was a poor loser."
In the last months of her husband's presidency, Rosalynn was sure they would beat Reagan. But in the November 4 election, Carter lost to Reagan. Rosalynn believed Christian conservatives, the Iran hostage crisis, and inflation contributed to the loss. Her husband's loss came after the Mental Health System Act was passed. But she said, "funding of our legislation was killed, by the philosophy of a new President. It was a bitter loss."
After the election, Rosalynn felt sad. She called supporters to thank them. She also met with Reagan's wife, Nancy, and gave her a tour of the White House. Rosalynn and Nancy Reagan became friends. Rosalynn was happy that the Iran hostages were released on the day Reagan became president.
Life After the White House
The Carter Center
After leaving the White House in 1981, Rosalynn and Jimmy Carter stayed very active. In 1982, they started The Carter Center. This is a private, non-profit group in Atlanta, Georgia. The Carters returned to their home in Plains, Georgia. Rosalynn was on the Center's Board of Trustees. She focused especially on the mental health program. The Carters were in debt after leaving the White House. But they wrote books to earn money and opened the Carter Center.
Rosalynn and her husband's first big project with the Carter Center was to help make peace between Israel and its neighbors. They visited the Middle East in March 1983. They invited leaders from many places to join.
In 1986, the Carters helped build homes for the poor in Chicago. They worked with Habitat for Humanity. They used hammers and saws to build homes for a week.
Mental Health Advocacy
Rosalynn Carter created and led The Carter Center Mental Health Task Force. This group of experts works to improve mental health. She hosted the yearly Rosalynn Carter Symposium on Mental Health Policy. This event brought together leaders in mental health.
In 1984, she became an Honorary Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association. In 1985, she started the Rosalynn Carter Symposium on Mental Health Policy. This led to the Mental Health Program in 1991. She also started the Mental Health Task Force. In 1992, she became chair of the International Women Leaders for Mental Health.
The Rosalynn Carter Fellowships for Mental Health Journalism give money to journalists. They report on mental health or mental illnesses. This helps people learn about mental health and reduces the shame linked to it. In 2007, Rosalynn worked with David Wellstone to push Congress to pass mental health insurance laws. They helped pass a law in 2008 that requires equal coverage for mental and physical illnesses.
Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving
Rosalynn Carter was president of the board for the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving (RCI). This is at Georgia Southwestern State University, her old college. The RCI started in 1987. It helps with issues related to caregiving in America and worldwide. The institute helps both family and professional caregivers. These caregivers help people with chronic illness, disabilities, or limitations from aging.
Advocacy for Women and Children
In 1977, Carter spoke at the 1977 National Women's Conference. Other speakers included Betty Ford and Lady Bird Johnson.
In 1988, she met with three other former first ladies. They discussed how the Constitution affected women. This conference aimed to raise awareness of gender inequality.
In 1991, Carter started Every Child By Two. This was a national campaign to increase childhood immunizations. She worked with Betty Bumpers. This campaign started after many people died from measles.
Carter also served on the board of Habitat for Humanity. She was an honorary chair of Project Interconnections. Both groups help provide housing for people in need. She was also a deacon at her church in Plains.
Later Years and Legacy
Writing and Public Speaking
After leaving office, Rosalynn Carter wrote her autobiography, First Lady from Plains, which came out in 1984. She also wrote other books, including Everything to Gain: Making the Most of the Rest of Your Life with Jimmy Carter.
Throughout the 1980s, Carter gave many speeches about caring for caregivers. She said people would cry and tell her it was the first time someone understood what they were going through.
Continued Public Service
After the death of Anwar Sadat in 1981, the Carters attended his funeral. In October 1982, Carter attended the funeral of Bess Truman. In late 1983, she was by her mother-in-law Lillian Carter's side when she passed away.
In July 1986, Rosalynn helped build homes for Habitat for Humanity in Chicago. In October, the Carters gave President Reagan and his wife Nancy a tour of the Jimmy Carter Library and Museum.
In January 1988, Rosalynn was honored to christen the cruise ship Sovereign of the Seas. It was the largest cruise ship in the world at that time. In March 1988, she spoke about mental health. She said that many people who needed mental health care in 1978 still did not get it in 1988.
In September 1993, the Carters returned to the White House for a ceremony. Israel and the PLO signed an agreement on Palestinian self-government.
2000s and Beyond
In 2004, Carter spoke about the importance of doctors recognizing mental health symptoms. She stressed how important it was to spot symptoms in early childhood. In December 2006, Carter became a deacon at the Maranatha Baptist Church.
In 2007, Rosalynn and her husband attended the funerals of Gerald Ford and Lady Bird Johnson. In 2010, she criticized TV shows that showed mentally ill people as violent. She said they were more likely to be victims of crime.
After Betty Ford died in 2011, Carter gave a speech at her memorial service. She praised Betty Ford for her courage in speaking about illness and addiction.
In April 2013, Carter attended the dedication of the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum. In November 2013, she was very happy when a new mental health insurance rule passed. This rule required equal treatment for mental health care.
In August 2015, Jimmy Carter announced his cancer diagnosis. Rosalynn supported him. In November 2015, they helped build homes for Habitat for Humanity in Memphis. In January 2016, Jimmy Carter said Rosalynn's support helped him through everything. Carter attended the funeral of Nancy Reagan in March 2016. In July 2016, she supported ending the death penalty in California. She voted for Bernie Sanders in the Democratic primary that year.
Upon the death of Barbara Bush in April 2018, Carter became the oldest living former First Lady. In October 2019, she became the longest-married former First Lady. In July 2021, the Carters celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary. They were the first presidential couple to do so.
Health and Passing
In April 1977, Carter had surgery to remove a non-cancerous breast tumor. In May 2023, The Carter Center announced that Carter had been diagnosed with dementia. The statement said she continued to live at home with her husband. On November 17, 2023, Carter entered hospice care. She passed away two days later at her home in Plains, Georgia, at age 96.
Awards and Honors
In 1999, Rosalynn and Jimmy Carter received the Presidential Medal of Freedom. This is the highest award for civilians in the U.S.
In 2001, Rosalynn Carter was added to the National Women's Hall of Fame in Seneca Falls, New York. She was the third First Lady to be inducted.
Some of her other awards include:
- Dorothea Dix Award, Mental Illness Foundation, 1988
- Jefferson Award for Greatest Public Service Benefiting the Disadvantaged, 1996
- Rhoda and Bernard Sarnat International Prize in Mental Health, Institute of Medicine, 2000
- American Peace Award with Jimmy Carter, 2009
Rosalynn Carter also received honorary degrees from several universities. She was a distinguished lecturer at Agnes Scott College. She was also a Distinguished Fellow at Emory University in Atlanta.
Books Written by Rosalynn Carter
Rosalynn Carter wrote five books:
- First Lady from Plains (her autobiography), 1984
- Everything to Gain: Making the Most of the Rest of Your Life (with Jimmy Carter), 1987
- Helping Yourself Help Others: A Book for Caregivers (with Susan K. Golant), 1994
- Helping Someone with Mental Illness: A Compassionate Guide for Family, Friends, and Caregivers (with Susan K. Golant), 1998
- Within Our Reach: Ending the Mental Health Crisis (with Susan K. Golant and Kathryn E. Cade), 2010
Images for kids
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Rosalynn Carter's signature
See also
In Spanish: Rosalynn Carter para niños
