James EARL Carter was the 39th President of the United States, serving from 1977 to 1981. He was a Democrat from Georgia and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 for his work in international peace and human rights. He was born on October 1, 1924, in Plains, Georgia, and was the first U.S. president to be born in a hospital. He was also the first president to be born in the 20th century. He was known for his commitment to human rights and his efforts to reduce nuclear arms.