Summary
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter has passed away at the age of 100.
Carter, the 39th President of the United States, served from 1977 to 1981. Before his presidency, he was the governor of Georgia.
A Democrat, Carter defeated incumbent Gerald Ford in the 1976 presidential election. The Carter administration, however, was marked by challenges, and in 1980, he lost re-election to Ronald Reagan.
Born on October 1, 1924, in Plains, Georgia, Carter initially worked as a peanut farmer. His presidency unfolded during a turbulent period in American history: an ongoing Cold War, inflation and international tensions.
Carter’s presidency brokered the Camp David Accords in 1978. This landmark peace agreement between Egypt and Israel remains the foundation of Middle Eastern diplomacy.
Domestically, Carter focused on addressing the energy crisis, economic inequality, and environmental challenges. But inflation, unemployment, and the Iran hostage crisis were significant challenges to his presidency.
Post-Presidency
After leaving the White House in 1981, Carter dedicated himself to humanitarian work, becoming an active former president. His post-presidency was marked by his tireless efforts to promote global peace and human rights, often in regions affected by conflict and poverty.
In 2002, Carter was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his work in international diplomacy and humanitarian efforts, joining a select group of former U.S. presidents to receive the prestigious honour.
Carter co-founded Habitat for Humanity, a nonprofit organization that has helped build and rehabilitate homes for millions of people worldwide. He also devoted much of his time to the Carter Center, which he founded in 1982 with his wife, Rosalynn.
Throughout his life, Carter achieved numerous remarkable milestones. At 100, Carter was the oldest living former U.S. president, and his 43-year post-presidency remains the longest in history.
Carter also set the record for the longest marriage of any U.S. president, having been married to Rosalynn for 77 years.
Featured Image Credit: Library of Congress.
I am a third-year Politics and Journalism Studies student at the University of Stirling (2022-) and a writer and sub-editor for the Brig for over a year (Nov. 2023-), focusing mainly on political topics.
