Ex-US President Jimmy Carter Has Died
Jimmy Carter, the 100-year-old former US president and Nobel Peace laureate, who rose from humble beginnings in rural Georgia to lead the nation from 1977 to 1981, has passed away, according to a statement from his nonprofit foundation on Sunday.
Carter had been in hospice care since mid-February 2023 at his home in Plains, Georgia—the same small town where he was born and once operated a peanut farm before becoming governor of the Peach State and running for the White House. He died “peacefully” at home, “surrounded by his family,” The Carter Center said.
“My father was a hero, not only to me but to everyone who believes in peace, human rights, and unselfish love,” Chip Carter, the former president’s son, stated.
Carter was the oldest living ex-US leader and the nation’s longest-lived president, an outcome that seemed unlikely in 2015 when he revealed he had brain cancer. However, the US Navy veteran and devout Christian defied the odds to enjoy a long and impactful post-presidency, even after four years in the Oval Office that were often seen as disappointing.
During his single term, Carter emphasized human rights and social justice, enjoying a strong initial two years that included brokering the Camp David Accords, a peace deal between Israel and Egypt. However, his administration faced numerous challenges, most notably the Iran hostage crisis and a disastrous failed rescue attempt for the 52 captives in 1980. He also faced criticism for his handling of an oil crisis.
In November 1980, Republican challenger Ronald Reagan defeated Carter in the polls, leading to Carter’s relegation to a one-term presidency. Reagan, a former actor and governor of California, swept into office on a wave of staunch conservatism.
Active Post-Presidency
Over the years, a more nuanced image of Carter emerged, one that acknowledged his significant post-presidential activities and reevaluated his achievements. He founded the Carter Center in 1982 to pursue his vision of global diplomacy and received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 for his tireless efforts to promote social and economic justice.
Carter observed numerous elections worldwide and became a prominent international mediator, addressing global issues from North Korea to Bosnia. Known for his toothy smile, he said basic Christian tenets such as justice and love formed the foundation of his presidency. He taught Sunday school at Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains well into his 90s.
In recent years, he underwent various hospital treatments, including radiation therapy after revealing in August 2015 that he had brain cancer.
US Senator Raphael Warnock of Georgia, the pastor at Ebenezer Baptist Church where Martin Luther King Jr. preached, expressed his condolences for the Carter family as the former president entered hospice care last year. “Across life’s seasons, President Jimmy Carter, a man of great faith, has walked with God,” Warnock wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “In this tender transitioning time, God is walking with him.”
In April 2021, President Joe Biden and his wife, Jill, visited the Carters at their home in Plains. The White House later released a photo showing the couples smiling together, although only Rosalynn Carter was seen by the press outside as she said farewell to the Bidens while using a walker.
Rosalynn, Carter’s wife of 77 years, died on November 19, 2023, at age 96. The former president, appearing frail, poignantly attended her memorial service in a wheelchair, with a blanket on his lap displaying their likenesses.
Carter is survived by the couple’s four children: three sons and a daughter.
