reporter: a soft-spoken, small-town girl, rosalynn smith carter became one of america s most charmed first ladies. born in plains, georgia, on august 18th, 1927, she was valedictorian of her high school class and met and married jimmy carter when he was in the u.s. navy. i love and respect and cherish and honor my wife, rosalynn. [ applause ] reporter: when mr. carter s father died in 1953, they moved back to plains to manage the family s peanut farm. i didn t want to go home. i was having a good time. i think i had thought i had outgrown plains, georgia. i had gotten a little too big for my britches. i only pouted for about a year after we got home. reporter: they had four children, three boys jack, chip, and jeff, and later daughter amy. in 1962, jimmy carter entered politics and rosalynn hit the campaign trail. campaigning was fun up to a certain point because i got to travel and see the whole country. the most fun are the people you meet. reporter: she sup