Changes

==Governor of Georgia==

==Governor of Georgia==

[[File:Carter and Maddox (cropped).PNG|left|300px|thumb|Jimmy Carter and [[Lester Maddox]].]]

[[File:Carter and Maddox (cropped).PNG|left|300px|thumb|Jimmy Carter and [[Lester Maddox]].]]

In 1966 Carter unsuccessfully sought the Democrat nomination for [[Governor]] of Georgia.  This failure significantly affected Carter personally by influencing him to turn to [[religion]] for comfort, convincing him that he had been "born again."<ref>The Presidents by Richard Kirkendall, pg. 552</ref> Carter did succeed in his second bid for Governor in 1970. [[Racism]] was a major factor in his campaign, in which he criticized his primary challenger Carl Sanders for paying tribute to [[Martin Luther King, Jr.]], in an effort to depress Sanders's white vote. Carter said "I have no trouble pitching for [[Georege Wallace|[George] Wallace]] votes and black votes at the same time, I can win this election without a single black vote."  Upon receiving the endorsement of former Democratic Gov. [[Lester Maddox]], Carter responded by praising the life-long segregationist: "He has brought a standard of forthright expression and personal honesty to the governor's office, and I hope to live up to his standard." <ref>https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/blogs/beltway-confidential/Jimmy-Carters-racist-campaign-of-1970-59499482.html</ref>  Maddox came to national attention by chasing blacks out of his restaurant with baseball bats or a pistol.

In 1966 Carter unsuccessfully sought the Democrat nomination for [[Governor]] of Georgia.  This failure significantly affected Carter personally as the story goes by influencing him to turn to [[religion]] for comfort, convincing him that he had been "born again."<ref>The Presidents by Richard Kirkendall, pg. 552</ref> Carter did succeed in his second bid for Governor in 1970. [[Racism]] was a major factor in his campaign, in which he criticized his primary challenger Carl Sanders for paying tribute to [[Martin Luther King, Jr.]], in an effort to depress Sanders's white vote. Carter said "I have no trouble pitching for [[George Wallace|[George] Wallace]] votes and black votes at the same time, I can win this election without a single black vote."  Wallace was the [[Alabama]] Democrat governor who ran for president in 1968 and famous for saying, "Segregation today, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever." 

 

Upon receiving the endorsement of former Democratic Gov. [[Lester Maddox]], Carter responded by praising the life-long segregationist: "He has brought a standard of forthright expression and personal honesty to the governor's office, and I hope to live up to his standard." <ref>https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/blogs/beltway-confidential/Jimmy-Carters-racist-campaign-of-1970-59499482.html</ref>  Maddox came to national attention by chasing blacks out of his restaurant with baseball bats or a pistol.

Carter was elected governor, with almost no [[African American]] support. For the next four years he presided over state affairs. He presented himself as a [[populist]], the representative of the people as opposed to special interests. Carter emphasized [[welfare]] reform, [[education]]al advance and budget reform. Once [[pro-life]], he [[abortion betrayal|changed his position]] and supported the legalization of [[abortion]] and worked to replace [[capital punishment]] in Georgia with life in prison. In 1974, the Georgia Constitution prohibited the Governor from seeking a consecutive term, and Carter was succeeded by Joe Frank Harris.  The Georgia Constitution was amended in 1976 to permit the Governor to serve two consecutive terms, and Harris was re-elected in 1978.  Later in life Jimmy Carter declared himself to be against abortion.

Carter was elected governor, with almost no [[African American]] support. For the next four years he presided over state affairs. He presented himself as a [[populist]], the representative of the people as opposed to special interests. Carter emphasized [[welfare]] reform, [[education]]al advance and budget reform. Once [[pro-life]], he [[abortion betrayal|changed his position]] and supported the legalization of [[abortion]] and worked to replace [[capital punishment]] in Georgia with life in prison. In 1974, the Georgia Constitution prohibited the Governor from seeking a consecutive term, and Carter was succeeded by Joe Frank Harris.  The Georgia Constitution was amended in 1976 to permit the Governor to serve two consecutive terms, and Harris was re-elected in 1978.  Later in life Jimmy Carter declared himself to be against abortion.