Redeemer : the life of Jimmy Carter

305 Pages·2014·1.964 MB·English

by  Carter, Jimmy, Carter, Jimmy, Balmer, Randall Herbert

A L L I S O N
HIStORY / BIOGRAPHY $27.99 US / $31.00 CAN
r a n d a l l b a l m e r
balmer R
ADVANCE PRAISE for REDEEMER 1/8
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vangelical Christianity and conservative politics
“Focusing on Carter as a religious figure, Randall Balmer recounts a fascinating story of unintended
are today seen as inseparable. But when Jimmy 1/8
consequences. Carter’s progressive evangelicalism had liberal political implications, but his R Carter, a Democrat and a born-again Christian, PDF CG 2/21 AUTHOR
capitalization on being ‘born again’ during his 1976 presidential campaign led eventually to the
won the presidency in 1976, he owed his victory in part to
emergence of a religious right. By 1980 that conservative movement was strong enough to help AC
R E D E E M E R American evangelicals, who responded to his open religiosity
defeat Carter and to establish itself as a force on the national political scene. As Balmer nicely
and his rejection of the moral bankruptcy of the Nixon
observes, Carter’s many admirable activities after leaving office illustrate that religion may be R
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administration. Carter, running as a representative of the
at its prophetic best when distanced from political power.” —GEORGE MARSDEN, author of
New South, articulated a progressive strand of American
Twilight of the American Enlightenment: The 1950s and the Crisis of Liberal Belief
Christianity that championed liberal ideals, racial equality, NC
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and social justice—one that has almost been forgotten since.
“In this brilliantly argued and thoroughly substantiated biography of Jimmy Carter, Randall
In Redeemer, acclaimed religious historian Randall CG
Balmer charts a unique course, choosing to situate Carter’s presidency in the religious context
D Balmer reveals how the rise and fall of Jimmy Carter’s
of ‘Born Again Christianity,’ which catapulted him into the White House on the back of a neo-
political fortunes mirrored the transformation of American LH
evangelical revival. A must-read for all who are interested in understanding the religious and
religious politics. From his beginnings as a humble peanut
political tumults of the 1960s and 70s, and how they speak to our present.” —HARRY S. StOUt,
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farmer to the galvanizing politician who rode a reenergized
TJK
Jonathan Edwards Professor of American Religious History, Yale University
religious movement into the White House, Carter’s life and
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career mark him as the last great figure in America’s long and
R a n da l l Ba l meR E
“Redeemer is a fascinating account not only of Jimmy Carter, but of progressive evangelicalism and AL
venerable history of progressive evangelicalism. Although he
its place in American history. Beautifully written and moving, it offers an eye-opening account of
stumbled early in his career—courting segregationists during
is the Mandel Family Professor in the Arts and Sciences at the man and the period. Evangelicalism emerges as more complex and unpredictable than many
M his second campaign for Georgia governor—Carter’s run for 6.25” X 9.5”
Dartmouth College. An Episcopal priest and the author of observers imagine.” —t. M. lUHRMANN, author of When God Talks Back: Understanding S: 1” E
president marked a return to the progressive principles of B: 3/4” E
more than a dozen books, Balmer lives in Wilder, Vermont. the American Evangelical Relationship with God
his faith and helped reenergize the evangelical movement.
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Responding to his message of racial justice, women’s rights, BASIC
“Redeemer offers an astute, sympathetic, and engrossing account of how Jimmy Carter’s Southern E
and concern for the plight of the poor, evangelicals across
4/C + PMS 875 C
Baptist faith shaped his political career. Randall Balmer’s feel for the religious dynamics of
the country helped propel Carter to office. Yet four years METALLIC, PMS
the 1970s—the ways in which right-wing evangelicalism swamped Carter’s more progressive 8001 C METALLIC
R later, those very same voters abandoned him for Ronald
rendering of born-again Christianity—is remarkable. He combines an insider’s knowledge
Reagan and the Republican Party. Carter’s defeat signaled
with a historian’s erudition to create a revelatory account of Carter’s religious and political FINISH:
the eclipse of progressive evangelicalism and the rise of Soft touch with
fortunes. A story replete with betrayal and redemption, and Balmer tells it exceptionally well.” emboss on all type
the Religious Right, which popularized a dramatically
and ornament on
—lEIGH E. SCHMIDt, Mallinckrodt Distinguished University
different understanding of faith, one rooted in nationalism, front cover only
Professor in the Humanities, Washington University in St. louis
individualism, and free-market capitalism.
lIFE
The of An illuminating biography of our 39th president,
$27.99 US / $31.00 CAN
Jacket design by Nicole Caputo ISBN 978-0-465-02958-7 Redeemer presents Jimmy Carter as the last great standard-
52799
Jacket photograph © Wally McNamee / CORBIS A Member of the Perseus Books Group bearer of an important strand of American Christianity, and
J I M M Y C A R t E R
www.basicbooks.com provides an original and riveting account of the moments that
9 780465 029587 transformed our political landscape in the 1970s and 1980s.
More Advance Praise
for Redeemer
“It would be hard to imagine a better account of a president’s life, faith,
and politics. Randall Balmer is an accomplished historian who com-
bines accuracy, insight, and archival diligence with the narrative skills
of a novelist. Th e result is a compelling story of Jimmy and Rosalynn
Carter, of confl icting evangelical traditions, and of a great reversal that
saw religious conservatives helping to elect one of their own as presi-
dent and then org an izi ng to bring him down. Randall Balmer gives us
an incisive analysis of idealism and realism in the White House,
d uplicity in unexpected places, and hardball politics in the back rooms
of right- wing churches. Th e book vividly captures the tone and atmo-
sphere of presidential politics in the late 1970s— an era that still reso-
nates in twenty- fi rst-c entury religious and pol itic al battles.”
—E. Brooks Holifi eld, Charles Howard Candler
Professor Emeritus, Emory University
“Randall Balmer’s Redeemer deft ly reveals modern America’s most
misunderstood president. Randall Balmer melds Carter’s famous evan-
gelical sensibilities into a story of cascading successes and failures,
the world ultimately indiff erent to a man who hoped politics could be
religion realized and redeemed more in retirement than in his frus-
trated presidency— a compelling, wistful tale briskly rendered.”
—Jon Bulter, Yale University
“Th is is religion and politics at its fi nest. With wit, insight, and narra-
tive freshness, Randall Balmer recalls that dynamic moment in the
1970s before evangelicalism became a handmaiden to po liti cal con-
servatism. Jimmy Carter was the ‘born again’ president who would
redeem the nation from the sins of Watergate and Vietnam. How he
tried, how many failed, and the evangelical- conservative knot that
rose aft er his presidency is a tragic and beautiful story, and none ex-
plains it better than Randall Balmer. Grab a cup of tea or coff ee, for
Redeemer is one of those books not to skim, but to savor.”
—Edward J. Blum, coauthor of Th e Color of Christ:
Th e Son of God and the Saga of Race in America
“Randall Balmer provides an insightful summary and analysis of
Jimmy Carter’s life and work as farmer, politician, president, human-
itarian and born- again Baptist. His study moves beyond biography to
place Carter within the larger context of an American evangelicalism
that continues to struggle with its role in the pol itic al sphere and the
impact of personal faith on the lives of elected offi cials. Randall Balmer
knows the issues well and explores them creatively.”
—Bill Leonard, James and Marilyn Dunn Professor of
Baptist Studies and Professor of
Church History, Wake Forest University
REDEEMER
Also by Randal l Balmer
First Freedom: Th e Fight for Religious Liberty
Th e Making of Evangelicalism: From Revivalism to Politics and Beyond
God in the White H ouse: How Faith Shaped the Presidency
from John F. Kennedy to George W. Bush
Th y Kingdom Come: How the Religious Right Distorts
the Faith and Th reatens America
Religion in American Life: A Short History
[with Jon Butler and Grant Wacker]
Protestantism in America
[with Lauren F. Winner]
Encyclopedia of Evangelicalism
Growing Pains: Learning to Love My Father’s Faith
Religion in Twentieth Century America
Blessed Assurance: A History of Evangelicalism in America
Grant Us Courage: Travels Along the Mainline of
American Protestantism
Th e Presbyterians [with John R. Fitzmier]
Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory: A Journey into the
Evangelical Subculture in America
A Perfect Babel of Confusion: Dutch Religion and
En glish Culture in the Middle Colonies
R E D E E M E R
T he L I F E of
J I M M Y C A R T E R
RANDALL BALMER
BASIC BOOKS
New York
Copyright © 2014 by Randall Balmer
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ISBN: 978- 0- 465- 02958- 7
ISBN (e-book): 978-0-465-05695-8
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
for Catharine
again, and always

CONTENTS
Preface Jimmy Carter and Me xi
One Th e House hold of Faith 1
Two From Peanuts to Politics 15
Thr ee New South Governor 33
Four He Came unto His Own 51
Five Redeemer President 75
Six Endangered Evangelical 93
Seven His Own Received Him Not 119
Eight Election Year of the Evangelical 137
Nine Stepping Stone 159
Epil og ue Sunday Morning in Plains 185
Appendix One Life and Times of Jimmy Carter 193
Appendix Two “Crisis of Confi dence,” July 15, 1979 201
vii