Today's Birthday, August 18

AAP General News (Australia)
08-16-2007
Today's Birthday, August 18

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Today's Birthday August 18: Rosalynn Carter, former American first lady (1927 - )

Rosalynn Carter, the wife of former US president Jimmy Carter, is well-known for her
advocacy for the arts as First Lady.

Born on August 18, 1927, in Plains, Georgia, Rosalynn was the eldest of four children
and her family were prominent church and community members.

Her father died when she was 13, leaving her mother to take up work as a dressmaker.

Rosalynn worked alongside her mother as well as going to school and looking after her
younger siblings.

Despite her circumstances, she managed to finish high school and enrolled in Georgia
Southwestern College.

She met her future husband, who was home from the US Naval Academy at Annapolis, after
completing her first year.

After their first date, Carter told his mother, "she's the girl I want to marry", and
they did in 1946.

The young couple moved to Virginia for Carter's first naval posting.

When his father died in 1953, Jimmy quit the service and the couple moved back to Georgia.

Rosalynn took up full-time work and he husband entered politics in 1962, and won a
seat in the Georgia Senate. He became Governor of Georgia in 1970.

Carter began his presidential campaign in 1976, which Rosalynn enthusiastically supported.

During her husband's presidency, she independently rallied for funding for the arts
and awareness of mental illness.

Her autobiography, First Lady From Plains, was published in 1984. She is the vice chair
of the Carter Centre which promotes peace and human rights worldwide.

AAP sg/jjs

KEYWORD: TODAY'S BIRTHDAY 18/8

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