• President Carter Arrives at Camp David to Discuss Iran Hostage Crisis
    Marion S. Trikosko
    Camp David
    travel
    meetings
    crisis & controversy
    This photograph by Marion S. Trikosko captures President Jimmy Carter arriving at Camp David in Catoctin Mountain Park, Maryland on November 23, 1979. Accompanying President Carter on the helicopter trip from the White House to Camp David was, from left to right, Secretary of Defense Harold Brown, Secretary of State Cyrus R. Vance, and Vice President Walter F. Mondale. The group was on hand to meet and discuss the Iran Hostage Crisis, which began earlier that month, on November 4. The hostages would be held for 444 days, until January 20, 1981. Camp David was established by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, then called Shangri-La, as a presidential retreat. President Dwight D. Eisenhower renamed the retreat Camp David after his grandson, David Eisenhower.
  • Lieutenant James Earl Carter, Jr.
    Unknown
    portrait
    military
    This portrait photograph of future president Jimmy Carter was taken during his time in the United States Navy. Carter graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1946. He began his military career as an ensign on a submarine and rose to the rank of lieutenant in 1952 before resigning from the Navy upon the death of his father in 1953. The inscription in the bottom right corner is written to Carter's wife and future first lady Rosalynn Carter. It reads, "Darling, I love you with all my heart - for all my life. Jimmy".
  • Egyptian-Israeli Peace Treaty is Signed on the North Lawn
    Unknown
    Head of State
    North Lawn
    This is a photograph of President Jimmy Carter clasping hands with Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin at the signing of the Egypt-Israeli Peace Treaty on the North Lawn, March 26, 1979.
  • President Carter with Grandson Jason in the Rose Garden
    Unknown
    First Family
    South Grounds
    Rose Garden
    This photograph of President Jimmy Carter was taken on October 7, 1977. President Carter is captured holding his grandson, Jason Carter, in the Rose Garden just outside the Oval Office. Jason, the son of Carter's eldest son, Jack, was two years old when this photograph was taken.
  • The Carter Family at the Democratic National Convention
    Warren K. Leffler
    First Family
    New York City
    New York
    This photograph of the Carter family was taken by Warren K. Leffler at the Democratic National Convention in New York City on July 15, 1976. In the photograph is soon-to-be president Jimmy Carter kissing his wife, Rosalynn Carter. They are surrounded by family, including President Carter's mother, Lillian, and their children Jack, James Earl III (Chip), Donnel, and Amy. Carter would go on to defeat President Gerald R. Ford in the presidential election that November and, on January 20, 1977, would be inaugurated as the 39th President of the United States.
  • The Carter Family Rafting the Salmon River
    Unknown
    travel
    leisure
    Idaho
    This photograph is of the Carter family rafting down the Salmon River in Idaho on August 23, 1978. In the raft are President Jimmy Carter (standing at left), First Lady Rosalynn Carter (seated, left, with sunglasses), and daughter Amy (seated at left in the front). The family rafted the Middle Fork of the Salmon River as part of a vacation out west that also included a stay in Wyoming and the Grand Tetons.
  • President Carter with Grandson Jason at the 1977 Easter Egg Roll
    Unknown
    south lawn
    South Grounds
    Easter Egg Roll
    holidays
    First Family
    This photograph of President Jimmy Carter was taken on April 11, 1977. President Carter is captured holding his grandson, Jason Carter, on his shoulders at the annual White House Easter Egg Roll on the South Lawn of the White House Grounds. Carter and his grandson are surrounded by a crowd of attendees and security. Jason, the son of Carter's eldest son, Jack, was around one and a half years old when this photograph was taken.
  • President Carter and Amy Carter Learn to Speed Read
    Unknown
    West Wing
    First Family
    Cabinet Room
    leisure
    In this photograph taken on February 22, 1977, President Jimmy Carter and his daughter, Amy Carter, participate in a speed reading course in the Cabinet Room. During his time in office, President Carter took a night course -- along with Amy -- to learn how to speed read. Carter learned speed reading in order to keep on top of all the paperwork, memoranda, and correspondences that were required as a part of his responsibilities as President of the United States. The Cabinet Room is located in the West Wing of the White House.
  • The Carter Family
    Unknown
    First Family
    This is an undated photograph of future president Jimmy Carter. In this photograph, Carter poses alongside his siblings and mother. From left to right are: his sister Ruth Carter Stapleton, Jimmy Carter, mother Lillian Carter, his brother Billy Carter, and his sister Gloria Carter Spann.
  • President Carter Lights First National Menorah
    Unknown
    winter holidays
    Hanukkah
    menorah
    Lafayette Park
    In this photograph, President Jimmy Carter lights a menorah in celebration of Hanukkah on December 17, 1979. This was the first lighting of the National Menorah, and took place in Lafayette Park, across Pennsylvania Avenue from the White House. President Carter, in dressed in a tuxedo for a State Dinner held in honor of Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher of Great Britain, put on an overcoat and walked across the street to the ceremony, which featured a small crowd of a few dozen. The lighting of the National Menorah historically takes place on the Ellipse and is overseen by a politician of the Jewish faith.
  • President and Mrs. Carter with the 1979 Blue Room Christmas Tree
    Unknown
    winter holidays
    Christmas
    decorations
    Blue Room Christmas Tree
    Blue Room
    State Floor
    This photograph of President Jimmy Carter and First Lady Rosalynn Carter was taken in the Blue Room of the White House on December 13, 1979. In the photograph, President and Mrs. Carter pose in front of the Blue Room Christmas Tree while attending a Christmas Party for the White House Press Corps.
  • Young Jimmy Carter at his Naval Academy Graduation Ceremony
    Unknown
    military
    merits & awards
    In this photograph taken on June 5, 1946, future president Jimmy Carter has his ensign lapels pinned by Rosalynn Carter, left, then known by her maiden name Rosalynn Smith, and Lillian Carter, right, his mother, at his graduation ceremony from the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. Jimmy Carter would go on to serve in the Navy until 1956, when he took over his family's businesses including peanut farming. Carter served as governor of Georgia prior to his term as president, which began on January 20, 1977 and ended January 20, 1981.
  • The Carter Family Welcomes Pipe Band to the White House
    Mary Anne Fackelman
    North Portico
    St. Patrick's Day
    In this photograph by Mary Anne Fackelman, President Jimmy Carter, First Lady Rosalynn Carter, and their daughter, Amy, welcome the Saffron United Pipe Band on March 16, 1980. Recognizable for their orange-hued kilts, the Irish pipe band was based in Babylon, New York and came to the North Portico of the White House to serenade the Carter family ahead of St. Patrick's Day.
  • The Carters Welcome the Fords at Official Portrait Unveiling
    Karl Schumacher
    arts & culture
    ceremonies
    dedication
    State Floor
    East Room
    In this photograph by Karl Schumacher, President Jimmy Carter speaks at a ceremony unveiling the official portraits of former President Gerald R. Ford and former First Lady Betty Ford on May 24, 1978. Joining President Carter onstage in the East Room of the White House were his wife, First Lady Rosalynn Carter, and the Fords. The ceremony marked the first time that a former president and first lady were invited back to the White House for their official portrait unveiling, a tradition continued by most administrations in the future.
  • President and Mrs. Carter at 1977 Inaugural Ball
    Jack E. Kightlinger
    inaugurations
    This photograph by Jack E. Kightlinger shows President Jimmy Carter and First Lady Rosalynn Carter holding hands on stage at their inaugural ball. The ball was held on January 20, 1977, as part of the festivities following President Carter's inauguration.
  • Congressional Christmas Ball, 1979
    Unknown
    winter holidays
    receptions
    State Floor
    East Room
    Congress
    Christmas
    In this photograph, President Jimmy Carter and First Lady Rosalynn Carter dance in the East Room during the Congressional Christmas Ball on December 11, 1979. For decades, first families have hosted annual balls for members of Congress during the holiday season.
  • The Mondales Hosts Dinner for Carter Family at the U.S. Naval Observatory
    Jack E. Kightlinger
    meals
    U.S. Naval Observatory
    First Family
    Washington, D.C.
    In this photograph, taken by Jack E. Kightlinger on December 18, 1977, Vice President Walter F. Mondale and Second Lady Joan Mondale host a dinner for President Jimmy Carter, First Lady Rosalynn Carter, and their family at the vice president's residence at the United States Naval Observatory. Among those in attendance were the president and first lady's son, Donnell "Jeff" Carter, daughter-in-law Annette Carter, and daughter Amy Carter. Vice presidents have traditionally lived at their official residence at Number One Observatory Circle since Vice President Mondale moved into the house with his family in 1977.
  • President Carter Delivers Inaugural Address
    Bernard Gotfryd
    inaugurations
    U.S. Capitol
    Washington, D.C.
    In this photograph, newly sworn-in President Jimmy Carter delivers his inaugural address from the east portico of the United States Capitol. President Carter’s running mate, Vice President Walter F. Mondale, can be seen at right. This photograph was taken by Bernard Gotfryd on January 20, 1977.
  • President Carter Takes the Oath of Office
    Bernard Gotfryd
    inaugurations
    U.S. Capitol
    Justices
    Washington, D.C.
    This photograph of Chief Justice Warren E. Burger of the Supreme Court administering the Oath of Office to Jimmy Carter from the east portico of United States Capitol was taken by Bernard Gotfryd on January 20, 1977. Next to the two stands First Lady Rosalynn Carter.
  • President Carter Takes the Oath of Office
    Library of Congress
    inaugurations
    U.S. Capitol
    Washington, D.C.
    Justices
    This photograph of Chief Justice Warren E. Burger of the Supreme Court administering the Oath of Office to Jimmy Carter on the east portico of United States Capitol was taken on January 20, 1977. Surround the two are First Lady Rosalynn Carter, outgoing President Gerald F. Ford, and newly sworn-in Vice President Walter F. Mondale.
  • President Reagan Takes the Oath of Office
    Unknown
    inaugurations
    U.S. Capitol
    Washington, D.C.
    Justices
    This photograph of President Ronald Reagan being sworn-in by Chief Justice Warren E. Burger of the Supreme Court was taken on January 20, 1981. President Reagan was sworn-in on a bible held by his wife, First Lady Nancy Reagan, for his inauguration ceremony. Reagan's inauguration was the first held from the west front of the United States Capitol. Among the attendees to the ceremony were President George H. W. Bush and Second Lady Barbara Bush and the outgoing administration of President Jimmy Carter and Vice President Walter F. Mondale.
  • President Carter Takes the Oath of Office
    Bernard Godfryd
    inaugurations
    U.S. Capitol
    Justices
    Washington, D.C.
    This photograph of Chief Justice Warren E. Burger of the Supreme Court administering the Oath of Office to Jimmy Carter on the east portico of United States Capitol was taken by Bernard Gotfryd on January 20, 1977. Next to them stands First Lady Rosalynn Carter. Among those in the crowd were outgoing President Gerald R. Ford, former Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey, newly sworn-in Vice President Walter F. Mondale, and the Carters’ youngest child, daughter Amy.
  • President Carter Congratulates Pittsburgh Sports Champions
    Unknown
    sports
    White House Guests
    State Floor
    East Room
    receptions
    In this photograph, taken on February 22, 1980, President Jimmy Carter hosts a reception in the East Room honoring athletes. The reception was held to recognize two championship teams that both hailed from Pittsburgh. The Pirates were victorious in the 1979 World Series, while the Steelers were champions in the 1980 Super Bowl. Here, the president holds a Pittsburgh Pirates hat and the iconic yellow "terrible towel," used as rally towel by fans of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
  • President and Mrs. Carter with Executive Chef Henry Haller
    Unknown
    staff
    Second Floor
    Center Hall
    This photograph shows former White House Executive Chef Henry Haller with President Jimmy Carter and First Lady Rosalynn Carter. Haller was executive chef at the White House from 1966-1987, serving Presidents Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard M. Nixon, Gerald R. Ford, Carter, and Ronald Reagan. For the Carter family, Haller's kitchen often prepared Southern comfort foods, such as baked cheese grits, fried chicken, and shrimp gumbo. This photograph is part of a collection belonging to former White House Executive Chef Henry Haller.
  • President Carter Oversees Pumpkin Carving Contest at Amy Carter's Birthday Party
    Unknown
    staff
    children
    celebration
    Ground Floor
    China Room
    holidays
    In this photograph, taken October 19, 1977, President Jimmy Carter watches over the young participants of a pumpkin carving contest in the China Room of the White House. The contest was held to celebrate the tenth birthday of Amy Carter, the president's daughter. Maître d'hôtel John W. Ficklin is also captured alongside President Carter in overseeing the proceedings. Ficklin joined the White House staff in 1939, and retired as maître d'hôtel in 1983. This photograph is part of a collection belonging to former White House Executive Chef Henry Haller. Haller served as executive chef at the White House from 1966-1987.