Early Life and Education
Born in New Orleans, Louisiana, Carter was the son of Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist William Hodding Carter Jr. and Betty Werlein Carter. His father was the editor and publisher of the Delta Democrat-Times newspaper in Greenville, Mississippi, where Hodding Carter III grew up. The newspaper was known for its progressive stance on civil rights in the deeply segregated South.Carter attended Princeton University, graduating in 1957. After college, he served in the United States Marine Corps.
Career
Journalism
Following his military service, Carter returned to Greenville, Mississippi, to work for his family's newspaper, the Delta Democrat-Times. He eventually became its editor and publisher. Under his leadership, the newspaper continued its legacy of advocating for civil rights and racial equality, often challenging the prevailing segregationist attitudes in Mississippi during the 1960s. He was a vocal critic of white supremacy and supported the integration of public schools.Political and Government Service
Carter served in the Mississippi House of Representatives from 1964 to 1968. He was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1964 and 1968.In 1977, President Jimmy Carter (no relation) appointed him as the Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs and the chief spokesman for the State Department. He served in this role until 1980. During his tenure, he became a familiar face to the American public, regularly briefing the press on foreign policy matters. His measured and articulate handling of communications during the 444-day Iran hostage crisis (1979-1981) earned him widespread respect and praise.
Academia and Post-Government Career
After leaving government service, Carter pursued a distinguished career in academia and television journalism. He was a regular panelist on the PBS program This Week with David Brinkley and later contributed to various news programs as a political analyst. He also held faculty positions at several universities, including Duke University's Terry Sanford Institute of Public Policy (now the Sanford School of Public Policy) and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He was a visiting professor at Tulane University and a fellow at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.Carter was a strong advocate for press freedom and often spoke out on issues of ethics in journalism and government transparency.
Personal Life
Hodding Carter III was married multiple times, including to Margaret Ainsworth and Patricia M. Derian, a human rights activist who served as Assistant Secretary of State for Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs during the Carter administration.Death
Hodding Carter III died on January 11, 2023, at the age of 87, in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.Awards and Honors
- Peabody Award (shared, for his work on This Week with David Brinkley)