Jimmy Carter’s rise to the presidency was one of the most remarkable ascents in American political history. He was all but unknown to the public through much of 1975. Less than a year later, he was the Democratic Party’s candidate for president.

In January 1977, President Carter inherited an economy with sluggish employment and rising inflation. Americans felt betrayed and discouraged by the Watergate scandal, the resignation of President Richard Nixon and the dismal end of the Vietnam War in 1975.

His vision was to take the country in a new direction. He undertook a sweeping reform agenda that included restoring accountability in government, creating the first national energy plan, supporting human rights around the world, encouraging peace among nations and keeping the United States strong and secure. He served only one term as President.

In 1981, after leaving office, Jimmy Carter conceived the idea of combining his presidential library with an international centre for conflict resolution which Mike and I visited today. It supports programmes advancing peace and health throughout the developing world.

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation honoured the Carter Centre with the 2006 Gates Award for Global Health and a $1 million contribution to the Centre’s work.

Born in Plains, Georgia, Carter was an enterprising youngster growing, packing and selling peanuts. While President he negotiated the Camp David Accords – the first step in the peace process between Israel and Egypt. Pictured at the signing in 1979, from Left: Egyptian President Anwar Sadat, President Carter and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin.