You’ve probably heard the name James Carter and immediately thought of the 39th President. It makes sense. But while the patriarch of the family spent his 100 years building houses and brokering peace deals, his grandson, James Carter IV, carved out a very different kind of legacy.
He didn't run for office. He didn't want the podium. Honestly, he was just a guy with a laptop and a serious knack for digging through the internet.
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Then 2012 happened.
Most people remember the "47%" video that effectively tanked Mitt Romney's presidential campaign. What most people don't know is that James Carter IV was the guy who tracked it down. He wasn't some high-paid operative in a glass office. At the time, he was basically an unemployed political researcher working out of his home in Georgia, driven by a mix of partisan passion and a protective streak for his grandfather's reputation.
Who is James Carter IV?
James Earl Carter IV was born in 1977, right as his grandfather was settling into the Oval Office. He’s the son of James Earl "Chip" Carter III and Caron Griffin. If you look at old White House photos from the late 70s, you might see a toddler being held by the Shahbanou of Iran or crawling around the halls of power. That was him.
He grew up with the heavy weight of the "Carter" name, but he didn't follow the traditional path of a political scion. While his cousin, Jason Carter, went the route of state senate and a run for Governor, James stayed behind the scenes.
He's a researcher. A "deep diver."
He eventually graduated from Georgia State University with a degree in public policy. But his real education came from the messy, chaotic world of digital opposition research. He started Carter Research, a firm that specializes in finding the things people think they've hidden.
The Video That Shook Washington
The story of how James Carter IV changed the 2012 election is kind of wild when you think about the luck involved.
It started with a clip on YouTube. The video was blurry, the audio was terrible, and it was posted by a mysterious user named "Anne Onymous." Most people would have scrolled past it. James didn't.
He saw Mitt Romney talking about a factory in China. Something felt off. He spent weeks—literal weeks—trying to track down the person who filmed it. He used Twitter. He used direct messages. He basically badgered the source until they trusted him.
Why did he do it? He told reporters later that it was personal. Romney had been attacking Jimmy Carter’s "weak" foreign policy on the trail. James wasn't having it.
"I just think it’s ridiculous," James told NBC News back then. "I don’t like criticism of my family."
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Eventually, he convinced the source to give the full footage to David Corn at Mother Jones. That footage contained the infamous clip where Romney suggested that 47% of Americans view themselves as "victims" who are dependent on the government. It was the political equivalent of a nuclear bomb.
Life After the "47%"
After the video went viral, James Carter IV became a bit of a cult hero in Democratic circles. He even got a "Congratulations! Papa" email from the former President.
But he didn't parlay that into a TV career or a seat in Congress.
He’s spent much of his career doing "election observation" with the Carter Center. He’s been on the ground in places like Nigeria and Indonesia, making sure votes are counted fairly. It’s less glamorous than taking down a presidential candidate, but it’s the kind of "boots on the ground" work the Carter family is known for.
He also did some consulting for the government of Panama. It was a nod to his grandfather’s work on the Panama Canal treaties, which James has always defended.
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Why He Recited the Beatitudes in 2025
Fast forward to January 2025. The world was mourning Jimmy Carter, who passed away at age 100.
During the funeral services, James Carter IV stepped into a rare spotlight. He didn't give a long political speech like Jason did. Instead, he stood before the congregation and recited the Beatitudes from the Gospel of Matthew.
“Blessed are the peacemakers...”
It was a quiet, powerful moment. It showed the side of the family that isn't about "gotcha" videos or polling numbers. It was about the faith that drove his grandfather and the quiet loyalty James has always shown the family.
Real Talk: The Misconceptions
People often confuse the Carter grandsons. Because they both work in politics and both live in the Atlanta area, James and Jason get swapped in headlines constantly.
- Jason Carter is the politician (former State Senator, former candidate for Governor).
- James Carter IV is the researcher and activist.
James has never held an elected office. He’s also been very open about his struggles, including periods of unemployment and the difficulty of finding a niche when your grandfather is a global icon. He doesn't pretend to be a perfect "political prince." He's a guy who likes the nuts and bolts of how things work.
What This Means for the Carter Legacy
The Carter family has managed to do something most political dynasties fail at: they stayed relevant without being "politicians."
James Carter IV is proof that you can influence the highest levels of power without ever having your name on a ballot. His work in 2012 wasn't about him; it was about shifting the narrative.
If you're looking to understand the modern Carter family, don't just look at the Carter Center’s balance sheets. Look at the way the grandkids have integrated into the real world. They aren't living off trust funds in some ivory tower. They're working in law, teaching in schools, and, in James’s case, making sure the truth comes out, even if it takes a hundred hours of searching YouTube.
Key Takeaways for History Buffs
- Impact: James Carter IV is the primary reason the 47% video saw the light of day.
- Career: He runs Carter Research and focuses on opposition research and election integrity.
- Philosophy: He views his work as a way to protect the family legacy and ensure fair play in politics.
- The Future: As of 2026, he remains active in the Society of Presidential Descendants, helping preserve the history of the American presidency.
If you want to follow in his footsteps, the lesson is pretty simple. You don't need a massive budget to make a difference. You just need persistence, a laptop, and a very thick skin.
Check out the archives of the Carter Center or the Society of Presidential Descendants to see how the rest of the family is continuing this work in the post-Jimmy Carter era.