Jimmy Carter, the 39th president of the United States and a global advocate for peace, human rights, and health, passed away at the age of 100, as announced on Sunday. Carter’s son, Chip, described his father as a hero who exemplified the values of peace and unselfish love. Chip highlighted the way Carter’s legacy brought people together, urging the world to honor his memory by upholding these shared beliefs.
Born in Plains, Georgia, Carter was a Democrat who became the longest-lived president in U.S. history. Despite serving just one term in the White House, he left an enduring legacy through his post-presidential work. Carter’s presidency, beginning in 1977, came during a period of economic and foreign policy challenges, including unemployment, inflation, the energy crisis, and the Iran hostage situation. These issues overshadowed his early achievements, such as the 1977 Panama Canal treaty and the Camp David Accords of 1978, which established enduring peace between Egypt and Israel.
Carter’s efforts to address economic struggles and the Iran hostage crisis were pivotal to his 1980 election defeat to Ronald Reagan. His term ended as hostages in Tehran were released hours after he left office, fueling speculation about Republican negotiations with Iran. Despite his unpopularity as president, Carter’s post-presidency achievements were remarkable. In 2002, he received the Nobel Peace Prize for his decades-long commitment to human rights and peacemaking. Through the Atlanta-based Carter Center, which he co-founded with his wife Rosalynn, he worked tirelessly on global health initiatives, reducing cases of river blindness, trachoma, and Guineaworm disease.
Carter’s humanitarian work extended to election monitoring and peace missions worldwide, including visits to North Korea and Cuba. An outspoken critic of U.S. policies like the Iraq invasion and drone warfare, Carter also advocated for a two-state solution in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. However, his stance on Middle East peace drew both admiration and criticism, with some Israeli leaders distancing themselves from him after his 2006 book, Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid.
A devout Christian and advocate for energy conservation, Carter installed solar panels on the White House, although they were later removed by Reagan. His leadership style, marked by moral authority and humility, was exemplified by his 1979 “crisis of confidence” speech. While initially praised, it later became a target for critics who misinterpreted it as a statement of national malaise.
Jimmy Carter’s roots in Georgia shaped his life. After graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy and working in nuclear submarine programs, he returned to Plains following his father’s death, taking up peanut farming and entering politics. He served as a Georgia senator and governor before becoming president. Carter’s career demonstrated a commitment to racial equality, environmental sustainability, and global peace.
Carter’s death comes after the passing of his wife Rosalynn in November at the age of 96. The couple, married since 1946, shared a lifetime of partnership and humanitarian efforts. Public memorials in Atlanta and Washington, D.C., will honor Carter’s life before a private interment in Plains. His legacy as a champion of peace, humility, and justice endures, leaving a profound impact on the world.