Former President of the United States and Nobel Peace Prize winner Jimmy Carter passed away at age 100 on December 29, 2024, at his home in Plains.
Carter was born on October 1, 1924, in Plains, Georgia. His mother, Bessie Lillian, was a nurse at Wise Sanitarium. Carter’s father, James Earl Carter Sr., was a World War 1 veteran. After the war he became a successful business owner and farmland investor.
Jimmy Carter attended Plains High School, where he was also part of the basketball team. Later in life he attended Georgia Southwestern College, and after a year he transferred to Georgia Institute of Technology. In 1943, while at Georgia Tech, he received an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy in Anapolis, Maryland and finished his undergraduate coursework, graduating with a bachelor’s of science.
After graduation, Carter was deployed with the Atlantic and the Pacific fleets. In 1949 he was promoted to lieutenant junior grade. During the Chalk River nuclear incident in Canada, Carter was ordered to Chalk River to lead a team of U.S. maintenance crew. Canadian and American teams were assigned with dismantling the remains of the nuclear reactor. Due to fatal levels of radiation, each crew member had a 90-second window to complete the required task. Carter was also lowered down into the radiated water to assist with the shutdown. According to Carter himself, this experience reshaped his view on nuclear weaponry and energy and ultimately led him to cease the neutron bomb project during his presidency. He finally left active duty in 1953 and served as an inactive reserve for the navy for another 8 years. He left service in 1961 with the rank of lieutenant.
In 1962 Carter announced his campaign for Georgia State Senate and won against his opponent, Homer Moore.
Carter was sworn in as the 76th governor of Georgia in 1971.
In 1976 Carter and Walter Mondale defeated Gerald Ford and his running mate by receiving both the majority of electoral votes and popular votes. Carter was inaugurated as the 39th president of the United States on January 30, 1977. Carter was the only Georgian elected president. He undertook extensive diplomatic efforts. The Camp David Accord was signed between Israel and Egypt, where peace was finally reached between the two nations after Egypt formally recognised the sovereignty of the state of Israel. The Iran hostage crisis was a significant event during his last year of presidency. The hostages were kept for 444 days and were released on the first day of Reagan’s presidency. This event contributed to Carter losing the 1980 election to Ronald Reagan. President Carter ordered Operation Eagle Claw to evacuate the hostages from Iran, but due to a sandstorm in a location codenamed Desert 1, the helicopters crashed into refuelling tankers and left 8 U.S. soldiers dead.
Carter and his running mate eventually lost the presidential reelection to Ronald Reagan in 1980, and the Senate went Republican again for the first time after nearly three decades.
Post presidency, Jimmy Carter was allowed to regain his lost fame through humanitarian work. In July 2007, Carter joined Nelson Mandela’s “The Elders” group to advocate for global peace as an independent leader. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Carter began constructing homes for the displaced and also joined other presidents to assist the victims of Hurricane Harvey and Irma.
In 1982 Carter founded the Carter Centre to promote and advance human rights and has participated in improving the quality of life in more than 80 countries ever since by collaborating with various organisations, including the World Health Organisation.
Out of office, Carter loved painting and was involved in various sports such as cycling, skiing, and tennis. He was also a personal friend of Elvis Presley.
Jimmy Carter was an Evangelical Christian. As a president, he prayed several times a day and professed that Jesus was a driving force in his life.
Carter was the eldest child in his family; he had three younger siblings. Carter married the first lady, Rosalyn Smith, in July 1946 in Plains, Georgia. Rosalyn and Carter had four children, three sons and one daughter. The couple celebrated their 77th anniversary in 2023 and became the longest-wed presidential couple in U.S. history.
On October 1, 2024, Carter’s 100th birthday was celebrated by a flyover performance above his backyard. Carter became the oldest living president of the United States of America.
He made arrangements to be buried in front of his house next to his beloved wife. Shortly after his death, President Joe Biden released an announcement to honour his legacy. A state funeral will be held in Washington, D.C., followed by a day of mourning on January 9, 2025. President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden expressed their deep sorrow over the passing of former President Jimmy Carter, honouring his life of service, humility, and dedication to human rights. They celebrated his legacy as a peacemaker, humanitarian, and advocate for democracy while extending their condolences to the Carter family and all who were inspired by his profound contributions to the nation and the world. Vice President Kamala Harris expressed deep sadness over the passing of former President Jimmy Carter, highlighting his unwavering dedication to public service, compassion, and commitment to peace. She praised his leadership as a champion for human rights, global health, and affordable housing, as well as his enduring legacy through the Carter Center. Harris extended her condolences to the Carter family, emphasising his profound impact on the nation and the world.
According to Carter’s family, his last will was to vote for Vice President Kamala Harris, which he eventually did by mail.
Written by Mohammad Amin
