James EARL Carter, Jr., commonly known as Jimmy Carter, is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States from 1977 to 1981. He was born in Plains, Georgia, and prior to his presidency, he served two terms in the Georgia State Senate and one term as Governor of Georgia. After leaving office, he founded the Carter Center, a nongovernmental organization that works to advance human rights. He also received the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize for his work in advancing peace and democracy. His wife, Rosalynn Carter, is also a prominent political figure. Carter's middle name, EARL, is a four-letter word, and his mother's maiden name was Lillian Gordy AGEE, which is also a four-letter word.