Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter passed away on December 29th, 2024, becoming a centenarian just a few months before his death. He was the longest-living president in American history, and his presidency marked a major turning point in American politics between 1977 and 1981. On January 9th, the last five living US presidents congregated for the first time in seven years. Presidents Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Barack Obama, George W. Bush, and Bill Clinton all sat in Maranatha Baptist Church to pay respects at his funeral service.
A naval officer, a humanitarian, and a Nobel Peace Prize winner, Jimmy Carter was born on October 1, 1924 and grew up in Georgia. He enlisted in the United States Navy and climbed the ranks. Being promoted to lieutenant, he became involved in the Navy’s nuclear submarine program, and later bestowed several awards for his service. Following a stint as a peanut farmer, he became more involved in local politics. He was inducted as a Georgia state senator in 1963, gaining recognition for his progressive views on race and ecology, and in 1971, he was elected as the state’s governor.
His run for the presidency of the United States was successful, as he won both the popular vote and electoral college in 1976. Upon taking office, he became notable for many actions taken and policies passed as president. He, most notably, pardoned all draft dodgers for the Vietnam War, surrendered the Panama Canal, and passed the Camp David Accords, which were a pair of political agreements made between Israel and Egypt that laid the groundwork for the countries’ peace treaty concluded in 1979. Carter advocated for environmental protection, human rights, and social services. He directly oversaw the creation of the Department of Education and expanded the national park system. His reelection campaign was marred by the Iran Hostage Crisis and by great inflation, which caused a negative shift in public perception of him. He was defeated by Ronald Reagan in 1980.
Although he was only a one-term president, he continued to make a difference in the world through his extensive humanitarian efforts, even after his presidency ended. He used his former presidency as leverage to organize diplomatic meetings with various world leaders. Carter has been recognized for his active effort in building houses for Americans well into his old age. The Carter Center, founded in 1982, is widely regarded for its contributions to humanity through its battle against diseases and advocacy for human rights worldwide. This organization earned Jimmy Carter the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize for his continuous efforts toward peace. He continued laboring towards prosperity until his death at age 100, in his Georgia home.
