Autographs
Archive of Five (5) Wonderful President “Jimmy” Carter’s Personal Signed United States Navy Midshipman Letters
JAMES EARL “JIMMY” CARTER (b. 1924). 39th President of the United States serving from 1977 to 1981. In 2002, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his work with the Carter Center for work to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development.
1945-Dated, Archive of Five (5) Autograph Letters Signed, “Jimmy”, (4) Letters are Handwritten on special Naval Academy Letterhead and (1) is Handwritten on “United States Navy” Letterhead, all five are bright, fresh Choice Crisp Extremely Fine. In these persoanl Letters, “Jimmy” Carter writes to his sweetheart Jacquelyn Reid. However, the following July of 1946, Carter would actually wed Rosalynn, who would become his future First Lady. This remarkable Five Letter Archive includes: ( Images & full text of each letter are available online ).

1. August 10, 1945-Dated, Autograph Letters Signed “Jimmy”, 7” x 11”, 2 pages, enroute to Annapolis from Florida by Naval Ship, dated just one day after the Atomic Bomb fell on Nagasaki. Plus, it includes original Transmittal Envelope. Includes a complete printed transcription of the text.

2. Monday Night (September 4, 1945), Autograph Letter Signed, “Jimmy”, 7” x 10.25”, 1 page, (Annapolis). Includes original transmittal envelope. Includes a complete printed transcription of the text.

3. Monday Night (September 17, 1945), Autograph Letter Signed, “Jimmy”, 7” x 10.25”, 1 page, (Annapolis). Includes original transmittal envelope. Includes a complete printed transcription of the text.

4. Wednesday Night (September 27, 1945), Typed Letter Signed, “Jimmy”, 7” x 10.25”, 1 page, (Annapolis). Includes original transmittal envelope. Includes a complete printed transcription of the text.

Monday Afternoon (October 9, 1945), Autograph Letter Signed, “Jimmy”, 7” x 10.25”, 2 pages, (Annapolis). Includes original transmittal envelope. Includes a complete printed transcription of the text.

Jimmy Carter returned to the Naval Academy for his final year. He continued to see Miss Reid well into the Fall of 1945, until he changed his romantic focus to 18-year-old Rosalynn Smith, whom he knew through his sister Ruth and in whom he had showed interest earlier that Summer. However, Carter and Rosalynn were to be married less than one year later on July 7, 1946, shortly after his graduation from the Academy. Any existing personal Letters by Carter from this early time period in his life and career are very scarce. (10 items)
Jimmy Carter, who has rarely used his full name--James Earl Carter, Jr.--was born October 1, 1924, in Plains, Georgia. Peanut farming, talk of politics, and devotion to the Baptist faith were mainstays of his upbringing. Upon graduation in 1946 from the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, Carter married Rosalynn Smith. The Carters have three sons, John William (Jack), James Earl III (Chip), Donnel Jeffrey (Jeff), and a daughter, Amy Lynn.

After seven years' service as a naval officer, Carter returned to Plains. In 1962 he entered state politics, and eight years later he was elected Governor of Georgia. Among the new young southern governors, he attracted attention by emphasizing ecology, efficiency in government, and the removal of racial barriers.

Carter announced his candidacy for President in December 1974 and began a two-year campaign that gradually gained momentum. At the Democratic Convention, he was nominated on the first ballot. He chose Senator Walter F. Mondale of Minnesota as his running mate. Carter campaigned hard against President Gerald R. Ford, debating with him three times. Carter won by 297 electoral votes to 241 for Ford.

Carter worked hard to combat the continuing economic woes of inflation and unemployment. By the end of his administration, he could claim an increase of nearly eight million jobs and a decrease in the budget deficit, measured in percentage of the gross national product. Unfortunately, inflation and interest rates were at near record highs, and efforts to reduce them caused a short recession.

Carter could point to a number of achievements in domestic affairs. He dealt with the energy shortage by establishing a national energy policy and by decontrolling domestic petroleum prices to stimulate production. He prompted Government efficiency through civil service reform and proceeded with deregulation of the trucking and airline industries. He sought to improve the environment. His expansion of the national park system included protection of 103 million acres of Alaskan lands. To increase human and social services, he created the Department of Education, bolstered the Social Security system, and appointed record numbers of women, blacks, and Hispanics to Government jobs.

In foreign affairs, Carter set his own style. His championing of human rights was coldly received by the Soviet Union and some other nations. In the Middle East, through the Camp David agreement of 1978, he helped bring amity between Egypt and Israel. He succeeded in obtaining ratification of the Panama Canal treaties. Building upon the work of predecessors, he established full diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China and completed negotiation of the SALT II nuclear limitation treaty with the Soviet Union.

There were serious setbacks, however. The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan caused the suspension of plans for ratification of the SALT II pact. The seizure as hostages of the U. S. embassy staff in Iran dominated the news during the last 14 months of the administration. The consequences of Iran's holding Americans captive, together with continuing inflation at home, contributed to Carter's defeat in 1980. Even then, he continued the difficult negotiations over the hostages. Iran finally released the 52 Americans the same day Carter left office.

The Presidential biographies on WhiteHouse.gov are from “The Presidents of the United States of America,” by Frank Freidel and Hugh Sidey. Copyright 2006 by the White House Historical Association.

Transcripts of Letters:

August 10, 1945;

“Dear Jackie,

I wish you had started your job in New York about a week ago. We’ve been here now ever since last Monday & I would certainly have liked to see you. When will you come up to start working? Or have you changed your mind?

By the way, you haven’t forgotten me, have you? It does seem like a long time since we left y’all at Ponte Vedra Beach. We left on cruise right after we got back to the Academy and won’t get back to Annapolis for another week. I’ll have to wait until then to mail this ‘cause the censor wouldn’t pass my telling you we are in New York.

Jackie, I don’t want to ‘cut Evan’s throat’ or any thing but I would like for you to come to the Academy if you can. Maybe when you’re on the way to New York (or any other) weekend . I can find out about the hogs, football games, etc. later & let you know, if you think you might be able to come & would like to.

…We’ve been hoping that the war would end while we were here, but it didn’t. We’ve just left. It seemed that it would yesterday & everybody here was listening to radios & reading the notices of Times Square, etc…

Love,

Jimmy

P.S. My address will be -

J.E. Carter, Jr. Mids USN

2211 U.S. Naval Academy

Annapolis, Md.”

Monday Night (September 4, 1945);

“Dear Jackie,

I still haven’t gotten over the night in New York. We had to leave on a 0630 train Sunday. Didn’t quite get back in time to start the race exactly. We gassed across the starting line a few seconds after the race started, tho, & managed to win fourth place. I really enjoyed being with you. I’m looking forward to next weekend, too. I’ll try to get a boat for Saturday or Sunday afternoon, so you might bring slacks or shorts or whatever you’d like to wear sailing. I’m not sure about the boat, though. Don’t let anything happen to prevent your coming. I’m dragging to an Academy hop for the first time in a long while.

I’m awfully sleepy now so I think I’ll close & get some sleep. Do you mind? Write as soon as you can.

Love,

Jimmy”

Monday Night (September 17, 1945);

“Dearest Jackie,

I only have about five minutes so this sill be short. Be sure to come as early Saturday as you can. The game is at 2:00 P.M. & you’d better get to the house in time to change. Frank Easterlin is dragging his gal from American, & I’ll try to get tickets next to them if possible the address of the place you’re staying is 165 King George Street. If you get here before I get to the station get a taxi on out & I’ll see you there. I’m really looking forward to seeing you, darling. Do try to get here early. I’ll be out Sat about 1:00 PM & will go by the house then to the station.

The lights just blinked - out in 30 sec.

Love

Jimmy”

Wednesday Night (September 27, 1945);

“Dearest Jackie,

I just have a few minutes, but I wanted to let you know that thie letter finally got here. It wasn’t postmarked until the day I called, but Scotty has had a couple of letters like that too, so I reckon I just got fouled up by the Postoffice Department.

I’m very sorry that you couldn’t make it this weekend, but I understand. I’m looking forward to October 13th. The game will be with Penn State, and should be pretty good, but I’m not so interested in the game that week.

I’m glad you liked the stockings. I was afraid they were very poor ones after all. It would be worth that much to get you to dress that fast every time. If you only knew how much I hate to have to wait for anyone – even you!

I’ve been playing golf quite a lot lately, and like it a lot. I had never played it before and still can’t do worth a damn at it. It’s not as easy as it looks. Have you ever played? I still don’t reckon it’s as good as cross country hiking, though.

Hope you kept your promise about writing.

Love,

Jimmy

P.S. Excuse the typewriter, but I’m in a big hurry and I wanted you to read this. Note change of address.”

Monday Afternoon (October 9, 1945)

“Dearest Jackie

I got your letter yesterday & was relieved to hear form you. I was beginning to think you weren’t going to write. I didn’t know how much I enjoyed having you here until I spent a few days after you left. I miss you a lot. Can you come down again soon? In fact can you come for the weekend of the 29th? There will be a football game our first one, a hop that night, & probably an informal the Sunday afternoon. I think it will be a swell weekend & I know it will be for me if you can come. Please try to & if you can let me know as soon as you can. I’ll go ahead & get a room & the tickets. Maybe it’ll keep my morale up just assuming that you will be able to come down for the game.

If you can’t read this it’s because I’m in a big hurry.

Lots of love,

Jimmy

P.S. Will send stocking soon.”