Person Page - 87

James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. was born in Plains, Georgia on October 1, 1924, the first President born in a hospital, and is presently the earliest living President, and second-oldest living President. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1945, served on submarines in the Atlantic and Pacific fleets in World War II, and married Eleanor Rosalynn Smith on July 7, 1946.

Carter was elected Governor of Georgia in 1971, and stated in his inaugural speech that the time of racial segregation was over, and that racial discrimination had no place in the future of the state. He was the first statewide office holder in the Deep South to say this in public. He defeated Gerald Ford in the 1976 presidential race, and served from January 20, 1977 to January 20, 1981, when he was succeeded by Ronald Reagan.

Because he served as a submariner (the only President to do so), a submarine, the USS Jimmy Carter was named for him in 1998. He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1999, and the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002.

William Ellery, Jr. was born in Newport, Rhode Island on December 22nd, 1727. He was elected to the Continental Congress in 1776, and was one of Rhode Island's two signers of the Declaration of Independence (with Stephen Hopkins). In spite of having his house burned by the British, he remained in the Congress until 1785, when he retired to his native state. He died on February 15th, 1820.