Hodding Carter III, the former crusading editor and Jimmy Carter aide, has died at the age of 88. Carter was a renowned journalist and civil rights activist who played a significant role in advancing the cause of civil rights in the United States.
Carter was born in 1935 in Louisiana and grew up in Greenville, Mississippi. He was the son of a prominent newspaper publisher, and he followed in his father’s footsteps by pursuing a career in journalism. After graduating from Princeton University, he began his career as a reporter for the Delta Democrat-Times, his family’s newspaper.
In the 1960s, Carter became involved in the civil rights movement, and he used his position as editor of the Greenville Delta Democrat-Times to advocate for desegregation and racial equality. He was a vocal critic of segregationist policies and was arrested several times for his civil rights activism.
Carter was appointed by President Jimmy Carter to serve as Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs in 1977. In this role, he was responsible for overseeing the State Department’s public relations and communication efforts. Carter was known for his frank and candid style, and he was often at odds with the more cautious and cautious foreign policy advisers in the Carter administration.
After leaving government service, Carter continued to be involved in journalism and advocacy work. He served as the director of the Washington office of the Knight Foundation, which supports independent journalism and free speech, and he was a regular commentator on television and radio.
Carter’s commitment to civil rights and his dedication to the cause of independent journalism made him a beloved figure in the United States. He will be remembered as a tireless advocate for social justice and a champion of the First Amendment.