Im running for president. Jimmy carter entered the president ial race a political unknown. Outside of georgia, hardly anyone even recognized his name. But that would change. Come here. Jimmy who . Jimmy carter . I dont know who we is. I have nothing against him. He looks all right to me. He is a peoples man. He is sexy. I think if it came down to it people would say more jailed 46 it because he was a football player. Carter sexy . I think he has a nice smile. How do you do . Bushy hair flying all around. I heard he was a peanut farmer. I dont think it makes any difference whether he is a peanut farmer or not. Theres nothing wrong with peanuts as far as im concerned. I picture him like one of us. He is one of the common people. Now ladies and gentlemen, it gives me a great deal of pleasure to present to the next president of the united states, jimmy carter. applause sometimes introductions are hard to follow. I remember about five years ago when i was running for governor, and the young man who introduced me had done a great deal of work on my background and he got up and said we have with us tonight, at that time, senator carter from planes georgia. He went to Georgia Southwestern College where he studied chemistry and then he said, he went to georgia tech where he studied engineering and then he pointed out that i had gone to the u. S. Naval academy and received a degree in naval science and then he said he went to Union College in schenectady new york where he did his graduate work in Nuclear Physics and now he said he grows peanuts for a living. Jimmy carters roots go deep into the dark red soil of southwest georgia. He was born near the small farming town of the plains, but like many young people decided against continuing the family tradition. Eventually, he ended the promising career of a naval officer to return to the land, resuming the work of his parents and their parents before them. Will be the sixth generation in the same line. I have a good chance to get a good education as an engineer and scientist, nobody in my family ever had a chance to finish high school. We have always worked for a living. We know what it means to work. The determination, self discipline, the pure exertion that helped jimmy carter build his farming business would also see him through a campaign that was marked in the beginning by loneliness. There were no reporters, no cameras, no secret service nearby when jimmy first walked up and introduced himself to soldiers. This style was unheard of for president ial hopefuls, but for jimmy carter, there was no other way. I want to be tested in the most severe possible way. I cannot think of any more severe way than campaigning 250 days this year outside of georgia. Entering 31 different primaries. I want the people of this country to know my character, my strength, my weaknesses where i stand on issues. If i can measure up to what the american would want our government to be i will be lucky. Jimmy carter from georgia. I hope to be the next president. And so he traveled to the towns, cities, meeting halls and factories, supermarkets and sidewalks. Talking to his many people as he could meet and as many states as he could visit. Gradually, he began to close the gap between jimmy carter and known and jimmy carter a candidate to be considered. New hampshire, the first primary, the first state in which voters would make their choice. Traditionally, no candidate who lost in New Hampshire ever won the presidency. In the final days, a group of georgia supporters often referred to as carters peanut fans, came into New Hampshire. inaudible we couldnt her schedule was grueling, almost as tough as her husbands. To get through it all rosalynn remained and earnest and gracious campaigner. People asked me every day, how can you Everybody Knows everything you do. I just tell them, we were born and raised and still live in planes georgia. Has a population of 683 and everybody has always known everything out there. Jimmy has never had any care for scandal and his private life. I really believe he can restore that honesty, integrity, openness, and confidence in government that we so so we need in our country today. I think he will make a great president. The last vote was cast in the polls were closed. As darkness fell over new england, they anxiously waited for the first returns of the primary season. Jimmy carter took a long lead in the race tonight. He won the New Hampshire primary handily. When the official results were announced, jimmy carter had one 30 of the total popular vote. New hampshire results show that in new england, people being the south was not the handicap people thought it would be. Other victory celebrations would follow but few would be as gratifying to the dark horse candidate from georgia. I remember when we could not find a microphone. The primaries came in rapid succession like firecrackers on the 4th of july. This year we have had 30 state primaries. More than ever before. Making it possible to take our campaign directly to the people of america. Two homes and shopping centers, to factory ship lines and colleges, to beauty parlors and barber shops, to farmers markets and union halls. This has been a long and personal campaign. It kind of humbling experience. Reminding us that ultimate political influence rests not with powerbrokers but with the people. The people listened to the simple way jimmy carter voiced the high ideals of the democratic party. They showed their approval with the rich excitement. A far cry from the polite and solitary handshakes of months before. The smile that greeted those early voters have become as familiar as the morning paper. It is a long way from planes georgia to washington d. C. The strength of a person can be measured by the path he takes to travel there. For jimmy carter, that one was of hardworking determination. It is the same row that has been traveled for more than 200 years in this country by people who could see in hardships freedom and in obstacles opportunity. Those men and women literally built this nation from the land. Nurturing a dream with dedication and the sweat of their brow. The seasons have turned into centuries now but the traditions they planted will continue to grow. We can all see a greater nation. I have a vision of america. A vision that has grown and ripened as i have traveled and talked and listened and learned and gotten to know the people of this country. I see in america poised not only at the beginning of a new century, on the brink of a long new era of a more effective and efficient and sensitive and competent government. I see in america that is turned away from scandals and corruption. I see an american president who governs with vigor and vision and affirmative leadership. A president who is not isolated from our people but a president who feels your pain and who shares your dreams. I see in america on the move again. United. Its wounds healed. And america entering its third century with confidence and competence. And compassion. And america that lives up to the majesty of its constitution and the simple decency of its people. This is my vision of america. I hope you share it and i hope you will help me fight for it. I want to see is once we have a nation that is as good and decent and honest and truthful and competent and compassionate and as filled with love as all the american people. With the federal government at work in d. C. And throughout the country, use the congressional directory for Contact Information from members of congress, governors and federal agencies. Order your copy online today at cspan store dot or. Next we look back to Ronald Reagans president ial Campaign Announcement in the 1980 election. In a tape message from new york city, the former california governor talks about the economy, taxes energy and foreign policy. Ronald reagan won the 1980 republican president ial nomination with george h. W. Bush finishing a distant second. He then went on to defeat incumbent democrat jimmy carter in the general election in 44 states. Ladies and gentlemen, ronald reagan. Good evening. I am here tonight to announce my intention to seek the republican nomination for president of the united states. I am sure that each of us has seen our country from a number of viewpoints, depending on where weve lived and what we have done, for me it