Jimmy Carter Autographed Book - Why Not the Best? - Published While Campaigning for President

Book written and signed by Jimmy Carter (1924-), President of the U.S. Author of national bestsellers. Broadmen Press, Nashville, Tennessee, 1975, 1977, 208 pp. Written while he was campaigning for the presidency. Regular Edition with Colorful Dust Jacket.

Why Not the Best?, published in 1975, served as the essential campaign autobiography for Jimmy Carter as he embarked on an improbable bid for the 1976 presidential election. Initiated in late 1974, when the Georgia governor was largely unknown outside his home state and undervalued by the national media, the book aimed to introduce his background, values, and political stance to American voters. The title originated from a pivotal 1952 interview with Admiral Hyman Rickover, who questioned if a young Naval officer Carter had always given his best. This question, “Why not the best?”, became the central theme of his campaign, challenging the government to uphold the same high standards of excellence and integrity expected of its citizens in the post-Watergate era.

The book, which sold nearly one million copies, played a crucial role in propelling Carter into the White House by presenting him as a fresh and trustworthy alternative to the political establishment. It chronicles his upbringing in rural Plains, his naval career, his Christian faith, and his experiences as a businessman and politician. By combining a homespun, honest narrative with a call for government reform, Why Not the Best? helped solidify his image as a “southern moderate” and a political outsider. Today, the work is regarded as a significant historical document that offers insights into the 1976 campaign and the personal philosophy of the 39th president.