PRESIDENT JAMES E. "JIMMY" CARTER - BOOK SIGNED - HFSID 9457

JIMMY CARTER
The President from Georgia signed this copy of his autobiography
Book signed: "J Carter" on first blank flyleaf. 5¾x8¼. Why Not the Best?Why One Man Is Optimistic About America's Third Century by Jimmy Carter. Hardcover. Published by: Broadman Press. Place: Nashville, Tennessee. Year: 1975. Pages: 156. On December 12, 1974, Governor Carter of Georgia (1971-1975) announced he would seek the 1976 Democratic nomination for President. This book details the "political and spiritual pilgrimages" that led to his decision. From the jacket notes: "I am a Southerner and an American...a farmer, and engineer...father and husband, a Christian, a politician and former governor, a planner, a businessman, a nuclear physicist, a naval officer, a canoeist, and among other things, a lover of Bob Dylan's songs and Dylan Thomas' poetry." Carter, the only President to graduate from the U.S Naval Academy in Annapolis, had been profoundly inspired by Admiral Hyman Rickover, who had been his Commander when he was working on atomic submarines. The Admiral, who insisted on perfection, once asked Carter if he had always done his best. When the future President answered in the negative, Rickover asked, "Why not?" The exchange not only shaped Carter's philosophy on life, but also provided the title for his autobiography. This book was used to promote Carter's Presidential candidacy. James Earl "Jimmy" Carter (born in 1924) served as 39th U.S. President from 1977-1981. He was the only one-term Democratic President of the 20th century and the first Democrat not to be reelected since Grover Cleveland in 1888. He's also the only U.S. President to serve a full four-year term without making an appointment to the U.S. Supreme Court. He won the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize for his diplomatic efforts both during and after his presidency.After serving two terms in the Georgia State Senate, Carter ran unsuccessfully for Governor in 1966. Four years later, he ran again and won, serving as Governor of Georgia from 1971-1975. In original dust jacket. Fine condition.