Electing Jimmy Carter: The Campaign of 1976

In May of 1976, fresh from writing a best-selling political novel, Patrick Anderson signed on as Jimmy Carter’s chief speechwriter. Now, in this remarkable memoir, he brings Carter to life as never before. Behind the Georgian’s famous smile we discover a complex politician who was variously inspiring and petty, naive and calculating, stubborn and elusive, humble and proud, sardonic and compassionate, and ultimately an enigma even to those closest to him.

Rarely if ever has a skilled novelist and journalist had such access to a future president, then chosen to write about him with such relentless honesty. Electing Jimmy Carter is the most revealing portrait of Carter yet to appear, and it is also one of the funniest, most perceptive accounts of an American presidential campaign ever written.

The cast of characters includes not only Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter, and top aides Hamilton Jordan and Jody Powell, but such supporting actors as Warren Beatty, Norman Mailer, Jerry Brown, Bella Abzug, Hugh Hefner, Sam Donaldson, Walter Mondale, and Billy Carter. Fast paced and dramatic, Electing Jimmy Carter reads like a novel, but one that happens to be true.