In the flood of tributes following Jimmy Carter’s passing, one major aspect of his legacy was largely overlooked: his unwavering commitment to rural America. As the only president in modern history to hail from a small farming community, Carter brought a unique perspective to the White House that shaped his policies and priorities in ways that continue to resonate today.
Carter’s rural roots ran deep. Born and raised in Plains, he understood the challenges facing America’s heartland on a very personal level. This background informed his approach to governance, both as Governor of Georgia and as President of the United States.
Yet, in the days following his death, this important – indeed, pivotal – aspect of his legacy received scant attention, overshadowed by discussions of his foreign policy achievements and post-presidential humanitarian work.
This vision, which he carried into the White House, would shape his approach to rural policy for years to come.
As governor, Carter laid the groundwork for his rural focus, championing initiatives like the Georgia Heritage Trust Program in 1972, which aimed to preserve the state’s natural landscapes and historic sites.
He recognized early on that economic growth and environmental protection could coexist when grounded in faithful stewardship of the land. Upon reaching the White House, Carter elevated rural issues to national prominence. In 1979, he unveiled a comprehensive Small Community and Rural Development Policy, a first of its kind.
This policy addressed pressing rural needs, from housing and healthcare to economic development and environmental stewardship. Carter’s approach was holistic, recognizing that rural America’s challenges were interconnected and required a coordinated response.
As a young reporter, I interviewed Carter during the 1970 gubernatorial campaign and have a clear memory of him emphasizing the need to improve access to healthcare in rural areas as a prerequisite for economic growth.
He clearly carried that perspective into the White House. One of his most significant rural initiatives was the Rural Health Clinic Services Act of 1977. This landmark legislation increased Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement rates for rural health centers and allowed payment for nurse practitioners and physician assistants in these facilities.
The Act laid the foundation for improved healthcare access in underserved rural areas, a legacy that continues to benefit millions of Americans today (albeit not to a significant degree in his native Georgia, where rural healthcare has been deteriorating for years).
Carter’s commitment to rural America extended beyond healthcare. He established the Department of Energy and championed renewable energy and conservation as moral imperatives – a focus that had particular relevance for rural energy consumption.
His administration also won passage of the Food and Agriculture Act of 1977 (also known as the Farm Bill), which increased price and income supports for farmer and established a farmer-owned reserve for grain. This gave farmers more control over their crops and helped stabilize prices.
In contrast to his predecessors and successors, Carter’s approach to rural policy was deeply personal and informed by firsthand experience. While other presidents have certainly addressed rural issues, few if any have done so with Carter’s level of understanding and commitment. Subsequent administrations have continued to address rural concerns, but often in a piecemeal fashion, lacking the comprehensive vision that characterized Carter’s approach.
Perhaps the most profound irony of Carter’s rural legacy lies in the political shift that occurred during his presidency. The 1980 presidential election, which Carter lost to Ronald Reagan, marked the beginning of a tidal wave shift in rural voters away from the Democratic Party and toward the Republicans.
This trend has only intensified in the decades since, reshaping the political landscape of rural America. The irony is stark: rural voters began to desert a Democratic president who had arguably done more for rural communities than just about all modern presidents combined.
Carter’s deep understanding of rural issues and his comprehensive, strategic approach to policy development stands in contrast to the growing perception of the Democratic Party as increasingly urban-focused and disconnected from rural concerns.
This shift underscores a disconnect between policy outcomes and political allegiances. Despite Carter’s tangible efforts to improve rural life – from healthcare initiatives to energy policies tailored for rural needs – rural voters increasingly aligned themselves with a Republican Party that often advocated for reduced government intervention and spending.
Carter suffered one of the worst defeats ever inflicted on an incumbent president and left office a much-maligned figure. He later described his own presidency as “mediocre.” But time and history have a way of correcting and perfecting records, as they have done for Carter’s international work and post-presidential work. The same should certainly be true for his efforts to improve the lives of rural Americans.
