The Smiling Peanut
By Four Walls
@FourWalls (71527)
United States
February 9, 2025 9:04pm CST
Let’s start the trip to Jimmy Carter’s hometown of Plains, Georgia with a 13-foot tall peanut.
Many of you weren’t alive back when Carter ran for president, so you may not know about the caricatures. Because of his toothy smile his teeth were always prominent in the cartoons. Also, given his pre-political life as a peanut farmer, the nut played a role in depicting him.
So….in 1976, when he was campaigning, some folks in Evansville, Indiana thought it would be cool to make a big peanut with a toothy smile to welcome candidate Carter to town.
He loved it.
After the rally, the peanut was sent to Plains as a gift. It was prominently displayed in front of the campaign headquarters/old train station (more about that in a future discussion). After a car wreck, it was repaired and moved out to a location near the church he attended.
It’s the second-tallest peanut statue in the world and the most photographed thing in Plains. All in good humor for a man who had a great sense of humor.
PHOTO: The Smiling Peanut, Plains, Georgia.
22 people like this
19 responses
@crossbones27 (50117)
• Mojave, California
10 Feb
America is cool on stuff like this. I wonder if other countries have stuff like this. They like we got castles and Vikings. America is like we got biggest peanut and banana. 
Its all cool, love it but is interesting.
Its all cool, love it but is interesting.7 people like this
@crossbones27 (50117)
• Mojave, California
10 Feb
@FourWalls Brooklyn would have love that. Me so happy, do you see how big that ball is. 
4 people like this
@FourWalls (71527)
• United States
10 Feb
It almost looks like there are eyes (closed, like someone would while smiling big or laughing hard).
4 people like this
@allknowing (141057)
• India
10 Feb
When you look at it a second time the peanut does look like him. 
4 people like this
@allknowing (141057)
• India
10 Feb
@FourWalls Good you did not say a thing about Trump and that would vitiate the mood around here. I do not like him.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (71527)
• United States
10 Feb
@allknowing — I don’t like him either, and he has no sense of humor to speak of.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (71527)
• United States
10 Feb
Except he wasn’t 13 feet tall. 
It’s cool to see. We haven’t had much (intentional) humor from presidents since Obama. They used to be good comedians. JFK was a hoot, as was Reagan.
It’s cool to see. We haven’t had much (intentional) humor from presidents since Obama. They used to be good comedians. JFK was a hoot, as was Reagan.1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (141871)
• United States
10 Feb
Can you imagine driving past that every day? No wonder somebody tried to destroy it by "wrecking" into it. 
5 people like this
@Deepizzaguy (106794)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
10 Feb
I remember the cartoon images of the late Jimmy Carter's smile on his face.
4 people like this
@FourWalls (71527)
• United States
10 Feb
I think it’s utterly cool that he had no problem with it.
4 people like this
@Deepizzaguy (106794)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
10 Feb
@FourWalls That is true I like someone who is cheerful than being grumpy.
2 people like this
@FourWalls (71527)
• United States
10 Feb
I think so, too. The way it’s designed it looks like it has eyes above the smile, almost like a face.
5 people like this
@lilacskies (4730)
• United States
10 Feb
@FourWalls I would smile back every time I passed it!
5 people like this
@celticeagle (171552)
• Boise, Idaho
10 Feb
Oh, I was young but I saw him win and was so happy to have him as our president. What a great man! That smiling peanut is so cute. Thanks for sharing.
3 people like this
@FourWalls (71527)
• United States
10 Feb
It’s quite a positive symbol of him. Depicts his attitude perfectly, I think.
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (92068)
• United States
10 Feb
Now there is a bit of info I did not know..that peanut
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (92068)
• United States
10 Feb
@FourWalls That wouldn't surprise me either.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (71527)
• United States
10 Feb
More info: the Secret Service drilled a hole in the back of it to ensure there were no bombs inside.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (71527)
• United States
10 Feb
I don’t think I’d drive out of my way just to see it, but given that it’s there with everything else in the town, it was a fun sidetrack.
@RasmaSandra (82591)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
10 Feb
That is such a cute-looking peanut,
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (71527)
• United States
10 Feb
It is by itself, and as a tribute to Carter, it’s even cuter.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (71527)
• United States
12 Feb
@RasmaSandra — I imagine it’s a dry county.
1 person likes this
@Marilynda1225 (83777)
• United States
10 Feb
I really enjoyed reading about this smiling peanut. The picture itself made me smile.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (71527)
• United States
10 Feb
@Marilynda1225 — me too! He was my first Commander in Chief, as a matter of fact.
@Marilynda1225 (83777)
• United States
10 Feb
@FourWalls just for the record...I was alive when Carter was president
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (71527)
• United States
11 Feb
President Carter had a great sense of humor and had no problems with people making fun (politely, of course) of his smile or his job as a peanut farmer. He was proud of both.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (71527)
• United States
11 Feb
It’s an important crop for Georgia, and of course, an important part of Carter’s life. And it’s so cute!!!!
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (185437)
• United States
10 Feb
That is really cute. I would think the Mr. Peanut sign in front of the Planters factory would be larger, but guess not..
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (111842)
• Marion, Ohio
10 Feb
I never heard about the peanut statue. It's cute
1 person likes this
@1creekgirl (42480)
• United States
10 Feb
That's really cool! I've posted in the past about my little red peanut Christmas ornament that my Grannie named Jimmy Carter.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (71527)
• United States
10 Feb
Yes. It was hard to separate the thought of peanuts from him during his presidency.1 person likes this
@FourWalls (71527)
• United States
10 Feb
He tried. He was too honest for the job, though. But he gave us the Camp David Accord, bringing peace between Israel and Egypt.
1 person likes this
@thedevilinme (4256)
• Northampton, England
10 Feb
It needs eyes Can you draw some on.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (71527)
• United States
10 Feb
It has eyes, if you look closely. I colored them in for you.
1 person likes this
