20. Jimmy Carter wrote, including poetry and a novel, built houses, and established charities
When Jimmy Carter left the White House under the cloud of what was widely regarded as a failed presidency he refused opportunities to make a fortune. Instead, he established the Carter Center to support human rights around the world. He participated in diplomatic missions, humanitarian missions, and peace missions. He delivered a eulogy during the funeral of former president Gerald Ford. He famously joined Habitat for Humanity, not only using his name to help raise funds and volunteers but actively working as a carpenter building houses. He remained outspoken on many of the pressing issues facing Americans.
His work for Habitat for Humanity became widely known and admired. What is less known is his prolific work as a writer. Carter published books on politics, foreign policy, social issues, personal memoirs, relationships, religious beliefs, and even poetry. Also, less well-known is his work as a novelist. In 2003 Carter published The Hornet’s Nest: A Novel of the Revolutionary War, which describes the fierce partisan warfare in the American south, an often ignored aspect of the war. The book described the rivalries between Loyalist and Patriot families, and is the first work of fiction ever published by any person who held the office of President of the United States.
Where do we find this stuff? Here are our sources:
“George Washington: A Life”. Willard Sterne Randall. 1997
“Friends at Twilight”. Joseph J. Ellis, American Heritage Magazine. May/June 1993
“Construction of the University”. Gene Zechmeister, Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello. January 4, 2012
“James Monroe”. William P. Cresson. 1946
“Mad Old Man from Massachusetts”. Lawrence Lader, American Heritage Magazine. April 1961
“Andrew Johnson: A Biography”. Hans L. Trefousse. 1989
“U.S. Grant: Man of Letters”. Bruce Catton, American Heritage Magazine. June 1968
“Rutherford B. Hayes, Educator”. Henry L. Swint, The Mississippi Valley Historical Review. June 1952
“Big Bill Taft”. Stephen Hess, American Heritage Magazine. October 1966
“Calvin Coolidge: The Quiet President”. Donald R. McCoy. 1998
“History: Herbert Hoover Meets Adolf Hitler”. John Lukacs, The American Scholar. Spring 1993
“Harry Truman, Leader of the Freeway”. Matthew Algeo, The New York Times. April 4, 2009
“Golf Instructor, Grandfather, President”. Robert Strauss, The Pennsylvania Gazette, 2010
“The Last Days of the President”. Leo Janis, The Atlantic. July 1973
“Jimmy Carter Sets Record for Longest Post-White House Career”. The Carter Center. September 7, 2012
