There are probably many little-known facts about Jimmy Carter, the citizen and U.S. president. Many noted historians, friends, and media personnel tout him as being a man of moral, ethical, and religious standards. 

President Jimmy Carter said, “The only title in our democracy superior to that of President, [is] the title of citizen.”

Wow!

Did President Carter say this because he would soon be a regular citizen after finishing his four-year term as president, or did he really believe in the privilege and power of citizenship?

This quote may be the answer to my question.

As a part of his acceptance speech at the 1976 Democratic National Convention, Mr. Carter said, “It’s time for the people to run the government, not the other way around.”

President Carter’s words are a truth and a bright star in the darkest days and nights of a democracy.

One person may speak the truth, but many more should recognize, claim, and proclaim the truth.

Call me U.S. Citizen Betty Smith!

I wish every U.S. citizen believed this quote. Every eligible citizen would register to vote, vote, and uphold a democracy that justly serves the people in local, state, and federal offices and jurisdictions.

Jimmy Carter’s early occupation was one my VP used to mention during company-wide cheerleading gatherings. The VP would say there’s nothing more important on God’s good earth than tilling the soil, teaching children, preaching the Word, and keeping the lights on.

Jimmy Carter tilled the earth as a peanut farmer, and my VP and I worked to keep the lights on.

Indeed, Jimmy Carter, the farmer, and I had something in common.

Believe it or not! Your and my lifelong occupation and title as a U.S.citizen is right up there with the title of president, who is elected to work and serve us!

Here are a few other tidbits that are pretty interesting about our 39th president.

Jimmy Carter was the first future president born in a hospital.

Sounds insane, right?

This fact isn’t something that many people would ordinarily know or read about. Born as James Earl Carter Jr., the 39th president was born on October 1, 1924, in a hospital in Plains, Georgia.

What makes this fact significant is the previous 38 presidents were born in a non-hospital or some type of home setting.

Although the first hospital was built in 1751, the home was the most common place to have babies. Despite having hospitals, babies were born in home settings up to the beginning of the 20th century. A midwife attended to the mother and baby’s care, delivery, and needs in the mother’s home.

Carter’s mother, Lillian, was a registered nurse at the hospital where he was delivered. As a nurse at the Plains Hospital, Mrs. Carter probably wouldn’t have had it any other way.

Mom had nine children at home and two in a hospital.

Mr. Carter was also the first U.S. president to take the presidential oath using his nickname. With his hand on the family Bible, Mr. Carter took his oath as ‘Jimmy,’ not James Earl Jr.

What President Carter stated in his inaugural address as Georgia’s governor will forever be true, “I say to you quite frankly that the time for racial discrimination is over. The test of a government is not how popular it is with the powerful and privileged few but how honestly and fairly it deals with the many who must depend upon it.”

I don’t think my old VP would mind if I added to his saying.

There’s nothing more important on God’s good earth than tilling the soil, teaching children, preaching the Word, voting, and keeping the lights on.

I hope you are happy and well.