Jimmy Carter : elected President with pocket change and peanuts / Dorothy "Dot" Padgett.

Foreward by Jimmy Carter.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

How does a peanut farmer become Governor of Georgia and President of the United States? Only in America could such a story be true. Not satisfied with the climate of injustice he witnessed in his daily life, Carter sought a political career and was elected state senator in 1962 and again in 1964. He successfully won the 1970 campaign for Governor of Georgia. In 1975, Carter announced he would run for President. An army of loyal supporters, friends, neighbors, and elected officials, known as the Peanut Brigade, joined the campaign. They traveled across the country, joining Jimmy and Rosalynn, knocking on doors, standing at factory gates, walking streets, asking voters to vote for Jimmy Carter for President. While the basics of his story are well known, they have never been told from the perspective of a "soldier" in the Peanut Brigade. Dorothy Padgett, with an earthy, honest, and Southern voice, tells the story as if new to all of us. Humor and insight abound in this direct telling of how a peanut farmer from Georgia became President and leader of the United States. The secret is in his character, his morality, and in his being truly human.

Making the grade -- A defining moment -- Growing up plain -- Georgia senate race -- Georgia senator -- Bridging the gap -- The dashes in our lives -- What will I tell my grandchildren? -- Jimmy Carter for governor -- People power -- Inaugural festivities and gowns -- The swearing-in-governor of the state of Georgia -- The Carter women -- Governing the state of Georgia -- Reorganization and zero-base budgeting -- Georgia parks, peaches, and potato chips -- 1974 candidate for the presidency -- Jimmy carter is running for what? -- The phone was ringing--I picked it up -- 1974 Georgia Law Day -- A think tank for the issues -- Iowa -- Georgians freezing in New Hampshire -- Florida primary -- Wisconsin -- Ethnic purity -- Jerry Brown and Andy Young in Maryland -- A mixed bag ... Pa ... Tx ... cotton and cattle -- California, New Jersey, Ohio -- Plains, the summer of 1976 -- In the spirit of unity and love and victory -- New York convention with Dot Padgett -- Fritz and grits -- Hometown Plains -- A presidential general election -- Leaders for a change -- What the press said about President Carter -- A people's inaugural -- Inaugural reflections -- Human rights -- The Bert Lance affair -- Energy -- Panama treaties -- After the treaties -- Camp David Peace Accords -- After Camp David -- Normalization of diplomatic relations with China -- Hostage crisis -- Hostages, handshakes, and hugs -- Election and home -- Home to Plains -- Opening of the Presidential Center -- The Carter Center, waging peace, fighting disease, building hope -- Rosalynn Carter : driving force in support for the mentally ill -- Born again -- The Sunday school teacher -- Loyalty -- Nobel Peace Prize, Presidential Medal of Freedom, Carter Tribute -- Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter.