CMoA celebrates the legacy of proud Georgia resident and former President Jimmy Carter. Known for his willingness to negotiate and his forward-looking policies during his presidency, he is also known for his ceaseless efforts post-presidency to fight disease, support democracy, and provide people with homes. But did you know that Carter was also supportive of technology throughout his life? Perhaps it’s not surprising coming from a former officer on a nuclear submarine! While campaigning for president, Carter’s campaign jet (dubbed “Peanut One” because of his peanut farm) had two computers installed, unique for the time. Carter’s campaign also used email several times per day to reach supporters, which marked the first time the technology was used by a US presidential candidate. He also would install the then-new technology of solar panels on the White House, using them to heat water in the building, although they would be removed by a later President.
In 1978, Carter oversaw the installation of several computers in the White House; the West Wing had an HP 3000 connected to the terminals of mid and high-level administrative staff, as well as a water-cooled IBM laser printer measuring 8 feet by 10 feet. These were the first computers to enter the White House. They were used for assembling databases, tracking correspondence, developing a press release system, and compiling issues and concerns of Congress, according to the White House Historical Association. Carter even had a Xerox Alto installed in the Oval Office for his personal use. President Reagan had this removed in 1981, preferring to work on paper, although his staff adopted word processors. Even as more and more of the President’s daily tasks require the use of a computer, all succeeding presidents have maintained the tradition of keeping the desk in the Oval Office clear of a permanent desktop computer, making Carter the only president to use one in the Oval Office. The Xerox Alto at CMoA is one of only a few remaining in the world, and thanks to the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library we can share a little more about the history of its use at the White House with visitors as we pay tribute to President Jimmy Carter.
