Carter Donkey

White text with illustration to make the shape of a donkey on a green background

In 1976, Jimmy Carter won the democratic nomination and ran for president against incumbent President Ford. Carter’s political experience included a term as a senator in the 1960’s before becoming the governor of Georgia from 1971-1975. Gerald Ford, a Republican, had taken over as president after Nixon’s resignation in 1974 and many people were upset that Ford had pardoned Nixon, creating tensions. Carter ran as an underdog and Washington outsider, someone who would be a good change for America. Carter’s name is spelled to look like a donkey, the mascot of the Democratic Party. Many of Carter’s campaign materials were green to pay homage to his roots as a peanut farmer, which is a departure from the typical red, white, and blue color scheme of political memorabilia.