Jimmy Carter

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(PD) Image: White House
Jimmy Carter

Jimmy Carter, formally James Earl Carter, Jr. (October 1, 1924–December 29, 2024) was the 39th President of the United States of America from 1977 to 1981. Born in Plains, Georgia, Carter was the longest-lived president in U.S. history and the first to live to the age of 100. Prior to being elected president in 1976, Carter served from 1963 to 1967 in the Georgia State Senate and from 1971 to 1975 as the 76th governor of Georgia.

Carter, a Democrat who was former governor of Georgia, was elected as an outsider to Washington, defeating incumbent Gerald Ford in 1976. His term was marked by the 444-day humiliation of the Iran Hostage Crisis (when Iranian students held American diplomats hostage in Tehran), the successful Camp David Accords between Israel and Egypt, the end of détente with the Soviet Union after its invasion of Afghanistan, the boycott of the 1980 Moscow Olympics, and the return of the Panama Canal to Panama. With the international crises compounded by stagflation (high unemployment, high inflation and slow economic growth, together with very high interest rates and energy shortages) at home, the country was in a pessimistic mood. The voters blamed Carter for the malaise and he was defeated by conservative Republican Ronald Reagan in a landslide in 1980.

## Navy career[edit]

Two years after graduating from Plains High School, in 1943 he received an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy from U.S. Representative Stephen Pace, and Carter graduated with a Bachelor of Science in 1946. Carter was a sprint football player for the Navy Midshipmen and a standout freshman cross country runner. He graduated 60th out of 821 midshipmen in the class of 1947 and was commissioned as an ensign, later promoted to lieutenant. He entered the nuclear submarine program, led by Admiral Hyman Rickover, who Carter said had a major influence on his life. But his career in the U.S. Navy was short, as in 1953 his father died, and he resigned from active duty and went back to Georgia to tend to the family peanut farm.

Jimmy Carter at U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland, with Rosalynn and Lillian Carter pinning on his ensign bars. CREDIT: public domain image.

## Post-presidency accomplishments[edit]

After leaving the White House, Carter went on numerous high-profile international and humanitarian missions, winning the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002, for his work with an organization he started in 1982, the Carter Center. The Carter Center, created in partnership with Emory University, supports voting rights, public health, and human rights all over the world. He was well-known for being a supporter of the nonprofit Habitat for Humanity, frequently picking up a hammer himself and helping build affordable housing.

## Death at age 100[edit]

Carter died at his home in Plains, Georgia, on December 29, 2024. This followed his February 2023 decision to enter hospice.

Carter received a full state funeral, including his body lying in state in the U.S. Capitol building and military honors. Under order of President Joe Biden, January 9, 2025, was a national day of mourning for President Carter and for the next 30 days, American flags were ordered flown at half staff.