Jimmy Carter, regarded as a below-average President when in the White House between 1976 and 1980, came into his own in the aftermath with an exceptional career as a global mediator and promoter of human rights which won him the the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. He travelled extensively to conduct peace negotiations, monitor elections and further the eradication of infectious diseases, writing numerous books including two on the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, in which he criticized Israel’s treatment of Palestinians as apartheid.
Now nearing 99 he is receiving hospice care at home.
He was born 1 October 1924 7am Plains, Georgia, served in the navy after World War 11, took over the family peanut farm and rose from political obscurity as a dark horse candidate to defeat Gerald Ford in 1976. He instantly pardoned all Vietnam War draft evaders; put in place progressive energy policies and pursued the Camp David Accords, the Panama Canal Treaties, and the second round of Strategic Arms Limitation Talks. He lost the next election to Ronald Reagan.
He has a 12th house Libra Sun square a 9th house Pluto; with his Pluto in a ‘healing’ Water Grand Trine to a Scorpio Moon trine Uranus in the 5th – emotionally intense and his global influencer and persuader would come from his emphasised 9th house Pluto. He was outspoken with his Mercury in Virgo opposition his Uranus but the harder-edges would be softened as both squared onto an enthusiastic and optimistic Jupiter. His compassionate, helpful Neptune in his career 10th conjunct his ‘leadership’ Leo North Node and Venus are what fuelled his ambitions. It is in a publicity-attracting opposition to a determined Mars in Aquarius.
His Inauguration chart, 20 January 1977 12pm Washington, DC, is interesting. There is an unaspected Sun, a stressed Yod of Saturn sextile Pluto inconjunct Venus; and a frustratingly stuck Mars square Pluto inconjunct Saturn. The unintegrated Sun suggested a Term that never developed its full potential. And a badly aspected Mars would be blocked and unlucky. A focal point Yod Venus is well-intentioned and easy-going but again not able to fully connect.
Hindsight helps in these interpretations but useful to see how the aspects played out.
He was indeed one of the good ones. I remember that during his presidency, mortgage interest rose to 18 percent, nearly doubling many monthly payments. The economy, which he inherited, was terribly overheated and ordinary American families experienced kitchen table hardship. Then the news broadcasts nightly pounded the Iranian hostage story. The super-fast release of the hostages when Reagan assumed office made it patently clear that Republicans had been negotiating behind Carter’s back, which was technically treasonous. Trump’s coziness with Russia and North Korea make that era and those shady negotiations look like child’s play. How far we’ve fallen since President Carter’s honorable service.
Thanks for all the wonderful comments all.
Peace, love and joy to all.
Gives hope when remembering nice people like Jimmy Carter sometimes do make it to the top. He was one of the first at his level to take a stance against apartheid South Africa and Rhodesia. That Neptune Venus conjunction at the MC, an unconditional love towards humanity, and in Leo, ensuring attention… Every once in a blue moon a true healer does come along to try and lead to a better path, all the best to him.
I wasn’t born when he was president , he looks very compassionate
A great and decent man. He faced impossible headwinds during his presidency, and it wasn’t until after he left office that he really started to shine.
Among his many other accomplishments, he worked hard to combat homelessness in the United States, co-founding Habitat for Humanity, and as mentioned, worked for peace in the Middle East. As a young man, he earned an engineering degree at the U.S. Naval Academy. He later put that expertise to use during an incident in 1952 when, as a young officer, he was part of a team of Canadian and U.S. experts who risked dangerous exposure while working to decommission Canada’s Chalk River nuclear plant after the radioactive core melted, thereby averting a devastating nuclear disaster. He later said his experiences there influenced his opinions about atomic energy and led him to halt production of the neutron bomb as president.
As governor of Georgia in the early 1970s, he sparked backlash among bigots by fully embracing racial integration and equality. He was also an early advocate of healthcare reform, and as president, elevated education, making Secretary of Education a Cabinet-level position. He was a patriot, but a critical one, attempting to improve the United States rather than subscribing to mindless jingoism.
He was also an advocate for women’s rights worldwide, and although a devout Baptist, resigned his membership in his church organization over its backward position on women in the ministry.
He really tried to live according to his convictions. He will be missed.
He was also a nuclear engineer who was interviewed by Admiral Human Rickover, father of the nuclear navy, and one of the rare few Rickover accepted into his nuclear corps.
An incredibly honest, honorable, knowledgeable and decent man, perhaps too decent for the political world. He will be greatly missed.
Politics is more about gimmicks and glamour now. Reading Marjorie’s piece and the comments has given me more of an insight about his accomplishments and his very good brain, than any articles. As the first thing that came to mind, when I saw his name was that he was a Peanut Farmer. I remember his 1977 Election being covered in the UK- his Peanut farm was always mentioned, not his academic accomplishment. Engineers are very good at organising and being methodical. Politics could do with more people who understand the processes, rather than just chasing the game.
@Helen, No wonder! From the moment he stood for President, he was constantly disparaged by being called Peanut Farmer. He was also mocked for his attachment to his perfectly pleasant wife, Rosalynn, now age 96, for in effect not being Jackie Kennedy. They just weren’t cool.
The NYT has just published a very good article “Jimmy Carter’s Presidency was not what you think” (20.2.23). Would that we could have someone like him now. I don’t know how to send links. Sorry.
I was looking through the books by Bruno and Louise Huber this morning, two well known Astrologers from the mid 1960’s – 1990’s. Their reading list in the Life Clock Volume 1 had “Why Not the Best” by Jimmy Carter. It appears his influence was in many strata’s of life!
I’ve always liked him. A good, decent man.
@Virgoflake, him and Julie Andrews will for ever be my favorite celebrity “astro name sakes” as October 1st births. The birthday runs in the family, my great uncle was an astro twin, and his sister, my grandmother also born the day.
The astrological inheritance running through families is fascinating, Solaia. My paternal (merchant) side has Mercury/Mars in Scorpio running right the way down the line from Great grandfather onwards. Even my grandmother who married into the family has it.
What are the astrological aspects between Regan and Carter
We know now that there were some devious actions at the time of the election
One could add George Bush papa to it
Just wondering
An amazing person from The Greatest Generation. Him, Carl Reiner, and many more who fought in WWII and survived because the US entered late, but prepared, make me think about the extent the early 1920’s generation was destroyed in Europe.
My great uncle was Jimmy Carter’s astro twin. He survived the War, having entered battlefield in 1944, for Lapland War, as a runner – Germans were blowing up and burning everything as they retreated, and had better radios, therefore a vital role and telling of Mercury/Uranus. But he likely had tuberculosis going to the war, and this worsened to an extend that he perished in 1948, before reaching 24. He likely wouldn’t have become a Nobel Laureate, but listening to my grandmother talk about him, would definitely have contributed to communities he was part of.
Jimmy Carter was an outsider. Without the charm of Reagan or connections of Kennedy or charisma of Clinton, Washington power cliques and media united against him. He didn’t have a chance.
The astrology is interesting, because at the time it seemed as if his term never started and then he was gone.
I wish him peace and kindness..
He is one of the good ones. Thank you for this post.