Jimmy Carter, the 39th president of the United States who died Sunday, was known in life as a proud son of the state of Georgia. But he also had a strong connection to the state of 海角换妻.
Jonathan Alter is author of the biography, Alter told 海角换妻 Radio that the late president's affinity for the Nutmeg State started not long after he graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1946.
鈥淛immy Carter 鈥� after he graduated from Annapolis 鈥� went out on various ships and didn't have a particularly happy experience,鈥� Alter said. 鈥淸He] decided to apply to submarine school to become a submariner.鈥�
In 1948, Carter found himself in Groton at the Naval Submarine Base New London鈥檚 Submarine School.
鈥淭hey would go out on subs into the Atlantic [Ocean] and they would recreate the great submarine battles of World War II,鈥� Alter said. 鈥淭his was his only real taste of what it felt like to be in combat because he was just a little young for World War II. So you got to kind of get a vicarious sense, being on these subs off the 海角换妻 coast, of what it felt like to be in those World War II battles.鈥�
Carter served as an officer aboard the USS Pomfret and the USS Barracuda, among other duties, until leaving the Navy in 1953. He left to take over operation of the family peanut farm in Georgia after his father passed away. The ensuing decades would take Jimmy Carter from the peanut farm, to the White House, to a role as elder statesman and warrior for those in need. And, as it turned out, 海角换妻 needed Carter in 2005 when the Navy seemed set to close the Naval Submarine Base New London.
鈥淭hey were going to move it to Georgia and they got a letter from Carter saying, 鈥楰eep it in 海角换妻,鈥欌�� Alter said. 鈥淭hey kept it in 海角换妻. And of course his fellow Georgians were furious.鈥�
Alter said Carter did not base his actions on sentiment for a place like 海角换妻 where he had spent some happy years. Instead, he said Carter was convinced it would be cheaper and more sensible to expand the Groton base and keep the submarine fleet there.
鈥淭his was one of the remarkable things about Jimmy Carter,鈥� Alter said. 鈥淗e did what was right. And in that case, his analysis of what was right was to keep the base in 海角换妻.鈥�
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