James Carter, Longest-lived US President and Nobel Laureate, Dies at 100
James Carter, who served as the 39th president of the United States from 1977 to 1981, has died just two months after turning 100 years old, making him the longest-lived US President.
Carter had long been battling cancer and spent the last 19 months in hospice care. According to The Carter Center, the former president died at his home in the small town of Plains, Georgia. His wife, Rosalynn, died at the age of 96 in November last year.
“Our founder, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, passed away this afternoon in Plains, Georgia,” The Carter Center said.
Life of Jimmy Carter
Fondly called Jimmy Carter, the former president was born on October 1, 1924, in Plains, Georgia, to his father, a peanut farmer, and his mother, a registered nurse. Before Carter joined the US Navy, he studied at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, where he graduated 60th out of 821 midshipmen in the class of 1947.
During his time in service, Carter served in various locations, including abroad, and rose to the rank of lieutenant before retiring in 1961 to take up his share of the family peanut business. He received numerous awards, including the American Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, China Service Medal, and National Defense Service Medal.
Transitioning from a navy officer to a farmer proved difficult, particularly during the first year of the family’s harvest. However, he took classes on agriculture while Rosalynn learned accounting, and together they transformed the business.
The Navy officer-turned-farmer entered US politics in the early 1960s shortly after the 1954 Supreme Court ruling in Brown v. Board of Education, which declared racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional. In 1962, he announced his campaign for an open Georgia State Senate seat 15 days before the election. After early polls showed he was losing to Homer Moore, Carter challenged the result. An investigation revealed fraudulent activities, leading to another election. He won against Moore as the sole Democratic candidate, with a vote margin of 3,013 to 2,182.
From a state lawmaker, Carter contested the Georgia governorship and defeated Republican nominee Hal Suit to be sworn in as the 76th governor of Georgia on January 12, 1971.
Four years later, he launched an ambitious bid for the US presidency. Among 16 other Democratic candidates in the primaries, Carter was initially considered an underdog. His opponents derisively asked, “Jimmy Who?” Carter responded with the now-famous line, “My name is Jimmy Carter, and I’m running for president.” This strategy proved effective, as his popularity soared. By June 1976, he had published a memoir titled Why Not the Best? and worked tirelessly during the campaign, visiting 37 states and delivering over 200 speeches before any other candidate entered the race.
In the general election, he faced Gerald Ford. Although he led the Republican nominee by a sizable gap in pre-election polls, that gap narrowed leading up to the November 2, 1976, presidential election. Despite analysts predicting Carter might win the popular vote but lose the Electoral College, he secured both, with 50.1% of the popular vote and 297 electoral votes.
Although his rise to power was remarkable, his tenure as president faced significant challenges. The US grappled with severe economic difficulties, including inflation, recession, and a 1979 energy crisis. In May 1980, the US government experienced its first shutdown, primarily affecting the Federal Trade Commission.
Burdened by these and other events, Carter lost his reelection bid to Republican candidate Ronald Reagan, who secured a landslide victory with 489 electoral votes.
Post-politics, Carter redeemed himself as a campaigner for world peace, the environment, and human rights, ultimately earning him the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002.
How World Leaders Are Reacting to His Death
Current US President Joe Biden described Carter as a “man of great character and courage, hope and optimism.”
“Today, America and the world lost an extraordinary leader, statesman, and humanitarian,” Biden said in an official statement.
Incoming President Donald Trump, who once described Carter in 2019 as a nice man but a terrible president, paid tribute by stating, “The challenges Jimmy faced as president came at a pivotal time for our country, and he did everything in his power to improve the lives of all Americans. For that, we all owe him a debt of gratitude.”
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Barack and Michelle Obama, in their statement, said Carter “taught all of us what it means to live a life of grace, dignity, justice, and service.”
Other world leaders have also praised the former president.
King Charles III said, “His dedication and humility served as an inspiration to many, and I remember with great fondness his visit to the United Kingdom in 1977.”
According to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Carter was “motivated by his strong faith and values,” adding that he “redefined the post-presidency with a remarkable commitment to social justice and human rights at home and abroad.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Carter “was a leader who served during a time when Ukraine was not yet independent, yet his heart stood firmly with us in our ongoing fight for freedom.”
For President Emmanuel Macron of France, Carter was “a steadfast advocate for the rights of the most vulnerable and tirelessly fought for peace.”
President Biden has announced a national day of mourning, which will be observed on January 9, 2025.
