Headline
Legendary Ex-President Jimmy Carter Passes Away at Centenarian Age
Jimmy Carter, the humble peanut farmer who held the lowest approval ratings amongst post-war U.S. presidents apart from Donald Trump and Harry Truman during his term, gained significant admiration post-presidency for his humanitarian work, succumbed to death at 100, as per his foundation's announcement.
Central Points
Carter breathed his last at his residence in Plains, Georgia, surrounded by his family. He leaves behind four children, eleven grandchildren, and fourteen great-grandchildren, as per the Carter Center's declaration.
Born into obscurity—serving as Georgia governor for a single term and spending four years in the Georgia state Senate—Carter shockingly claimed the Democratic presidential nomination in 1976, two years following President Richard Nixon's resignation in disgrace. By securing a narrow victory over President Gerald Ford, Carter ascended to the White House.
Carter's presidency is synonymous with double-digit inflation, the 1979 energy crisis, and the Iran hostage crisis, and he suffered a crushing defeat to Ronald Reagan in 1980.
Despite the harsh criticism for economic turmoil under Carter, he managed to achieve success in foreign policy, such as brokering the Camp David Accords between Israel and Egypt and normalizing relations with China.
Carter's presidency was marked by two seminal events: within days of assuming office, he pardoned all Vietnam War draft dodgers and, during his final hours in the White House, negotiated the release of American hostages in Iran.
The Democrats' former governor from Georgia also grappled with the repercussions of the Soviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan and completed the Torrijos–Carter Treaties, giving Panama control of the Panama Canal.
Deeply unpopular upon leaving the office, his final approval rating hovered around 35%, making him only more popular than Trump and Truman. However, Carter went on to garner praise as one of America's most influential former presidents for his dedicated human rights advocacy worldwide through the Carter Center and constructing thousands of homes for Habitat for Humanity.
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Quote of Note
In the 1976 presidential campaign, Carter posed as an outsider, railing against Nixon's corruption. "There are a lot of things I would not do to be president," Carter remarked. "I will never make a misleading statement. I will never lie to you." A modest contender to begin with, Carter surpassed former Alabama Governor George Wallace and previous nominee Hubert Humphrey to capture the 1976 Democratic primary.
Striking Fact
Carter is the one and only president who completed a full term in office without appointing a Supreme Court justice and resided in subsidized housing before taking office.
Side Note
In 2019, Carter suggested then-President Donald Trump was an illegitimate president, accusing the Russians of meddling in his favor. Trump retorted with a dismissive remark, calling Carter a "bad president." Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, skipped President Joe Biden's inauguration ceremony due to their self-imposed isolation during the pandemic. Recently, Carter revealed to his family that he would vote for Vice President Kamala Harris in the presidential election, striving to cast his ballot as he reached his 100th birthday. Carter, consigned to hospice care in his home, cast his ballot by mail.
Sizable Figure
4,390. This represents the number of homes Carter constructed for Habitat for Humanity throughout his life, as per the organization's records.
Carter hails from Plains, Georgia, born in 1924. His father, James Earl Carter Sr., was a politically active farmer, while his mother, Lillian Gordy Carter, was a dedicated nurse. Carter attended the United States Naval Academy, graduating in 1946. Post-Naval Academy, he wed Rosalynn Smith and served on submarines, before being tasked with the nuclear submarine program. After his father's demise in 1953, Carter left active duty to manage the family peanut farm in Plains. He subsequently expanded his involvement in local politics, joining the Sumter County school board and later securing election to the Georgia state Senate in 1963. In 1966, his gubernatorial bid fell short, but he triumphed in 1970. Critiques of Carter's racial background have arise post-office. During the 1960s, Carter maintained distance from major civil rights events in Georgia. In his 1970 campaign for governor, he utilized questionable campaign strategies targeting conservative rural voters, a topic he continually evaded discussing even in the twilight of his life. In the early days of his tenure as governor in 1970, Carter declared, "The time for racial discrimination is over," causing many supporters to exit in protest. This statement bolstered his national profile, even earning a Time Magazine cover feature in 1971. Utilizing this elevated presence, he began his 1976 presidential campaign. During his presidency, Carter reshaped the federal judiciary by enhancing the numbers of minority judges and signed legislation curtailing discriminatory mortgage loan practices. He also established two new Cabinet-level departments: the Department of Energy and the Department of Education. In 2002, Carter was honored with the Nobel Peace Prize for his dedication to resolving international conflicts, promoting democracy, human rights, and fostering economic and social advancement. In February 2023, the Carter Center announced Carter's choice to spend his remnant years at home with family and acquire hospice care, opting against additional medical attention. The renowned statesman had battled other health concerns in the past, such as melanoma that invaded his liver and brain in 2015, before being declared cancer-free. He underwent surgery in 2019 to manage brain pressure issues, only to sustain a minor pelvic fracture and forehead injury in a series of falls that year, requiring 14 stitches.
References
[CNN, Reuters, AP]
After his service in the Navy and marriage to Rosalynn Smith, Jimmy Carter returned to Plains, Georgia, to manage the family peanut farm. His father, James Earl Carter Sr., and mother, Lillian Gordy Carter, played significant roles in his upbringing.
Despite criticism of his racial politics during his time as governor, Carter gained national attention for his 1976 presidential campaign, where he emphasized his outsider status and commitment to honesty. His father's political activism and mother's nursing work were likely influential in shaping his values. However, former President Donald Trump called Carter a "bad president," while Carter suggested Trump's presidency was illegitimate due to Russian interference.
