Billygate

William Alton Carter (March 29, 1937 – September 25, 1988) was an American farmer, businessman, brewer, and politician. The younger brother of U.S. President Jimmy Carter; he promoted Billy Beer and Peanut Lolita; and he was a candidate for mayor of Plains, Georgia.

1970s and later

In 1972, Billy Carter purchased a gas and service station in Plains. He owned and operated it for most of the decade.

Carter ran for mayor of Plains in 1976, but lost the election, 97 to 71 votes.

In the 1970s Billy Carter was the official spokesperson for Peanut Lolita liqueur while his brother, Jimmy Carter held presidential office.

In 1977, he endorsed Billy Beer, introduced by the Falls City Brewing Company, who wished to capitalize upon his colorful image as a beer-drinking Southern good ol' boy that developed in the press when his brother ran for president. Billy Carter's name was occasionally used as a gag answer for a Washington, D.C., trouble-maker on 1970s episodes of ''Match Game''. He was known for his outlandish public behavior; he once urinated on an airport runway in full view of the press and dignitaries. He later became sober, and reportedly extended support to other addicts in their own recovery.

Relationship with Libya

In late 1978 and early 1979, Billy Carter visited Libya three times with a contingent from Georgia. He eventually registered as a foreign agent of the Libyan government and received a $220,000 loan. However, Edwin P. Wilson claimed he had seen a telegram showing that Libya paid Billy Carter $2 million. This led to a Senate hearing on alleged influence peddling which the press named Billygate. A Senate sub-committee was called ''To Investigate Activities of Individuals Representing Interests of Foreign Governments (Billy Carter—Libya Investigation)''.

Death

Carter was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in the fall of 1987 and received unsuccessful treatments for the disease. He died in Plains the following year at the age of 51.

His death came five years after the death of his sister Ruth Carter Stapleton, who also died of pancreatic cancer at age 54. Their father, James Earl Carter Sr., also died of pancreatic cancer at the age of 58.

In 1999, Carter's son William "Buddy" Carter IV published a biography of his father titled ''Billy Carter: A Journey Through the Shadows'' ().

See also

* List of scandals with "-gate" suffix

References

External links

FBI file on Billy Carter
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Inquiry into the matter of Billy Carter and Libya: hearings before the Subcommittee to Investigate the Activities of Individuals Representing the Interests of Foreign Governments of the Committee on the Judiciary, United States Senate, Ninety-sixth Congress, second session, August 4, 6, 19, 20, 21, 22, September 4, 5, 9, 10, 16, 17, and October 2, 1980
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Billy Carter's "Redneck Power Pick-up" model
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Carter, Billy
1937 births
1988 deaths
United States Marines
Burials in Georgia (U.S. state)
Carter family
Deaths from pancreatic cancer
People from Plains, Georgia
Emory University alumni
Businesspeople from Georgia (U.S. state)
Deaths from cancer in Georgia (U.S. state)
Military personnel from Georgia (U.S. state)
20th-century American businesspeople