Former President James Earl Carter Jr., also known as Jimmy Carter, celebrated his 100th birthday on October 1st, 2024. This makes the 39th President, Carter, the longest living U.S. President in history.
Jimmy Carter was born on October 1st, 1924, in Plains, Georgia. He was the first U.S President born in a Hospital, the Wise Sanitarium, now known as the Lillian G. Carter Nursing Center. Carter’s parents owned a peanut farm, along with a warehouse and a small store where they grew peanuts, cotton, sugar cane, and other crops, along with raising livestock. They sold necessities in their shop, allowing people to buy on credit and pay later. The Carter’s were moderately prosperous, but lived in an impoverished community of mainly African Americans. Carter recalled a moment in his childhood, “When electricity came to the farm, an unbelievable change took place in our lives.” Carter’s staunch-segregationist father allowed him to befriend black farmhands’ children, who he developed friendships with. Carter developed his interest for civil rights, environmental concerns, and a business sense in credit to his upbringing. The young Carter raised animals, worked the fields, hunted, and more, some of which he did not enjoy. When Carter was 13 years old, he purchased five homes, whose prices were at rock bottom due to the Great Depression, around his town of Plains with money he saved from working with his parents.
Carter graduated from Plains High School in 1941. 12th grade was not offered, so he graduated from the 11th grade. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s New Deal programs assisted his family in passing through the Great Depression. Carter had always been interested in attending the United States Naval Academy, his desire further growing with American entry into the Second World War. He studied at Georgia Southwestern College, transferred a year later to Georgia Institute of Technology, and then was approved to the Naval Academy by an endorsement by Representative Stephen Pace. During his time at the Academy, he fell in love with Rosalynn Smith. After their first date, Carter reportedly told his mother, “She’s the girl I want to marry,”. In 1946, he graduated with a Bachelor’s in Science. Shortly after graduation, Carter and Rosalynn Smith married in July, 1946, Carter’s second proposal.
After graduation, Carter entered his career in the United States Navy. His new family would move around the country, from east to west. Initially, Carter served onboard the USS Pomfret, including as an Executive Officer. Once, Carter had urged the crew of the USS Pomfret to decline a party invitation that excluded non-whites. In 52’ Carter joined the Navy’s new Nuclear program. During his time as part of the program, an accident occurred resulting in a partial meltdown of an experimental reactor shaping his views on Atomic development.
After Carter’s father passed away, he resigned from the Navy and moved back to his family farm, which faced the threat of closure after years of decline. While Rosalynn did not support Jimmy Carter’s new plans, having to give up travel and the safety of a military job, both Carters worked to turn the farm around. Eventually, the farm became prosperous.
In 1962, Jimmy Carter ran for the Georgia State Senate, fifteen days before election day. Rosalynn was important for his campaign, helping direct its operations. After fighting against fraudulent voting orchestrated by the county’s Democratic party, Carter would win his election as part of the Democratic Party. Carter supported the integration of schools and communities from their segregated ways. Still, he did not speak up about his support, to not alienate segregationists, but fought back against other issues, such as literacy tests.
When Bo Callaway, a former Democrat turned Republican, ran for the U.S. House of Representatives, Carter looked to challenge him. The two had previously clashed, and on the last day of Carter’s second term, he announced his candidacy for House of Representatives. Callaway decided, instead, to run for Governor of Georgia, with Carter backpedaling, and deciding to challenge Callaway for the governorship. In the Democratic primaries, Carl Sanders was his main opponent, the former Governor. While Carter met with Martin Luther King Jr., looking to appeal to African Americans, Carter also appealed to segregationists. Carter’s campaign began to turn to appealing to racism as time went on, even criticizing Sanders for supporting Martin Luther King Jr. Carter would win the Governorship, switching back to speaking out against Georgia’s racist politics. Leroy Johnson, a black state senator, would state, “I understand why he ran that kind of ultra-conservative campaign. I don’t believe you can win this state without being a racist.”
As the 76th Governor of Georgia, Carter declared, “The time for racial discrimination is over”. Carter worked to cut down on state spending to combat a deficit, provided aid to the poor and the wealthy, introduced reforms in the Government and more. With his term coming to an end, and the state constitution barring a second term, Carter looked to the highest office.
On December 12, 1976, Carter announced his campaign for President of the United States. His main challenger was President Gerald R. Ford, who had succeeded President Richard Nixon after his resignation when the Watergate scandal broke out into the public light. After a difficult campaign, Carter would be elected president of the United States.
President Carter worked to introduce reforms and execute what he saw as important. On his first full day in office, Carter would sign Executive Order 119967, pardoning all Vietnam War draft dodgers. But, Carter’s presidency was hit with various troubles.
The Energy Crisis of 1973 was caused by an embargo launched by oil-producing Arab nations, for the U.S’ support of Israel in the Yom Kippur War. The cost of oil skyrocketed, quadrupling in price in under one year. Gas stations had to ration gasoline, and prices of goods that needed Gasoline to be transported or made, skyrocketed. This would lead to “stagflation”, inflation coupled with a stagnating economy. Carter acted, providing incentives for renewable energy, and coal. Oil and Natural Gas saw deregulation and Carter banned the construction of new oil and gas power plants.
Carter faced difficulty cooperating and coordinating with Congress. He avoided calls from members and did not participate in political favors. Still, Carter worked, providing amendments to healthcare, deregulating the airline industry, allowing companies to compete and grow, and creating the U.S. Department of Education. Carter improved relations with China along with African Nations.
On September 17, 1978, Israel and Egypt signed the Camp David Accords, a landmark agreement between the two nations. It was the first treaty between Israel and any Arab nation, with President Carter acting as a mediator. The negotiations took multiple days, with little chance of anything occurring between the two nations. On the last day, both nations agreed to sign it, creating a state of peace between the two nations. Carter would later receive a Nobel Peace Prize as a result of his work on the Camp David Accords.
In 1979, Carter signed the SALT II Treaty between the United States and the Soviet Union. The treaty was an important agreement in slowing the Cold War Era nuclear arms race. It limited the number of nuclear weapons each nation could have and placed restrictions on missiles. The treaty was never ratified by Congress, some members seeing it as a sellout to the Soviet Union, and Jimmy Carter pulled out of the agreement after the Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan. Still, both nations agreed to respect the agreement for the time being.
While running for a second term, Iranian students took over the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, Iran. The Iranian Hostage Crisis would damage Carter’s reputation. With 52 U.S. citizens held hostage for over a year, Carter ordered a special operation to free the hostages that would end in a disaster. 8 soldiers would be killed in the attempt, with the Secretary of State resigning as a result. Carter lost the 1980 elections to Ronald Reagan, with the hostages freed on the same day.
With his Political career over, Jimmy Carter would work to make the world a better place. On April 6th, 1982, the Carter Center would be founded by Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter. The mission statement of the center revolves around Human Rights, promoting democracy and freedom, preventing and resolving conflicts, and more in 65 countries. The Carter Center worked alongside the World Health Organization in nearly wiping out the parasitic Guinea Worm. Carter stated, “I’d like to see the last Guinea Worm die before I do.” Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter also worked with Habitat for Humanity, fundraising and even working on the construction of homes and projects. Rosalynn and Jimmy Carter have worked on over 4,300 homes throughout their 35 plus years volunteering with Habitat for Humanity. Even at 95, Carter volunteered with the organization even though Carter had fallen the day prior, needing over a dozen stitches. In 2002, Jimmy Carter became the third U.S president to receive a Nobel Peace Prize for his work in pushing human rights, advocating and working for peace, and working to help others.
Carter is making the most of his retirement when he was “involuntarily retired from the White House”. His staff and cabinet members gifted Carter a woodshop, where he pursues his hobbies involving woodworking, oil painting, and wine making. Carter auctions off his art and furniture he builds with all profits going to the Carter Center. Additionally, Carter still works on humanitarian efforts, a notable event including monitoring Palestinian Elections for a third time in 2006. On top of that, Carter has authored 32 books, ranging from topics on his life, all the way to his beliefs.
In 2015, Jimmy Carter was diagnosed with brain cancer at the age of 91. He recovered from the cancer, but in 2019, it was reported that Carter had been hospitalized after falling at home, receiving treatment for a minor pelvic fracture.
On November 19th, 2023, Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter passed away at the age of 96 in her home in Plains, Georgia. She was surrounded by family at her passing, including her husband. “Rosalynn was my equal partner in everything I ever accomplished,” President Carter said. “She gave me wise guidance and encouragement when I needed it. As long as Rosalynn was in the world, I always knew somebody loved and supported me.” Rosalynn and Jimmy Carter were the oldest married couple in presidential history, married for 77 years.
On February 18th, 2023, the Carter Center announced Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter would be entering Hospice Care instead of more medical treatments. Still, Jimmy Carter lives, having spent 19 months, at the time of writing, in Hospice Care.
On October 1st, 2024, Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter celebrated his 100th birthday in Plains, Georgia. Former President Carter is the first president of the United States to reach 100 years of age. President Biden congratulated Carter in a statement, “Put simply, Mr President I admire you so darn much. May God continue to bless you, Mr. President. You’ve been a good friend.” Presidents Obama, Clinton, and Bush also shared their congratulations to Carter via video. Former President Trump did not share any video congratulations, instead taking a jab at Carter’s Presidency. While attacking President Biden in a rally, Former President Trump called Biden the worst President in American history, stating that Carter was “…the happiest man because Carter is considered a brilliant president by comparison.” Governor Brian P. Kemp, the current Governor of Georgia, issued a proclamation declaring October 1st, Jimmy Carter Day. The Carter Center held a music gala to raise money and celebrate Carter. Habitat for Humanity honored Carter with a construction drive in St. Paul, Minnesota, to build new homes. Carter and his family celebrated his birthday with a Military Flyover plus a concert. People living in Plains, Georgia, held celebrations for Carter even though Carter was unable to attend.
“I don’t know what the future’s going to hold either. Rosalynn and I have to explore and see, but I know it will be guided in the days to come like you’ve guided my life in the last years that I’ve been alive, and I look forward to those days with anticipation — and, as I use my favorite word, trepidation.” -Jimmy Carter, his 90th birthday remarks.
