Washington National Cathedral & the White House
Featuring Very Reverend Randolph Hollerith and Reverend Canon Jan Naylor Cope
Main Content
On January 20, 1977, Jimmy Carter was inaugurated as the thirty-ninth president of the United States. During his time in the White House (1977–81), President Carter made many decisions guided by his fundamental commitment to peace and democratic values, emphasizing human and civil rights above all else. Putting these ideals into practice, President Carter negotiated the Camp David Accords, secured the release of American hostages in Iran, and appointed more women to his cabinet than any of his predecessors. An invaluable partner to President Carter, First Lady Rosalynn Carter was a dedicated advocate for mental health awareness, and, with newly allocated resources, she established the modern Office of the First Lady in the East Wing, setting a newly defined precedent for the role.