The former President of the United States of America, James Earl Carter Jr., popularly known as Jimmy Carter, died on Sunday, December 29, 2024 at the ripe age of 100 at his home in Plains, Georgia. In a statement, the former President’s son, Chip Carter, described his father as a hero not only to him but to everyone who believes in peace, human rights and unselfish love. “My brothers, sister, and I shared him with the rest of the world through these common beliefs. The world is our family because of the way he brought people together, and we thank you for honouring his memory by continuing to live these shared beliefs,” he said.
Born on October 1, 1924 in a 60-bed hospital in Plains, Georgia, about 150 miles south of Atlanta, Carter became the first future president to be born in a hospital at the time when childbirths mainly took place at home. This, perhaps, was because his mother, Lilian, was a registered nurse at the facility where he was delivered. His father, James Earl, was a farmer who grew corn, peanuts, cotton, and sugar cane. Carter took up peanut farming after his father died in 1953. He was a graduate of the US Naval Academy and rose to the rank of lieutenant. He was also a Georgia Senator before he won the governorship in 1970.
Carter, the longest-lived President in US history, was the 39th President of the US. During his time as President, between 1977 and 1981, he was known as a broker of peace in the Middle East and an advocate for global health and human rights. These notwithstanding, he did not serve two terms in the White House. His presidency was truncated by economic and foreign policy crises. There was high unemployment, energy crisis, double-digit inflation, the invasion of Afghanistan by the Soviet Union and Iran hostage crisis. Some 52 Americans were held hostage in Tehran. An attempt to rescue them led to the death of eight US servicemen.
All these made people doubt his leadership abilities. He tried his best to halt the economic downturn, but this did not stop the Republican Party presidential candidate and former California governor, Ronald Regan, from defeating him in 1980, making him the first Democratic President not to win re-election since 1888. In January 1981, the hostages were released, hours after Carter left office.
The Georgian Democrat dwelt more on international relations and human rights after his exit from the White House. For his efforts in human rights and peacemaking, he won the Nobel peace prize in 2002. He had founded the Carter Center, a non-profit organization, with his wife Rosalynn in the early 80s and it was through this Center that he conducted his humanitarian work. The Carter Center helped to cure river blindness, trachoma, and drastically eradicate Guinea worm disease. From about 3.5 million cases of Guinea worm disease worldwide in 1986, only about 13 cases of the parasitic condition were reported worldwide as of 2022, according to the Carter Center.
Carter also played a major role in promoting Habitat for Humanity, which provides housing for the needy. He pioneered renewable energy as a cheaper alternative to imported oil as he unveiled solar panels atop the White House in 1979. Nevertheless, the Reagan administration removed the panels in 1986.
He also travelled round the world preaching peace and working as election observer. He was instrumental to the 1978 Camp David deal that brought peace between Israel and Egypt. He frowned upon the 2003 invasion of Iraq and won both commendation and condemnation for his involvement in the Middle East peace process.
Known for his humility and non-discriminatory approach to life, Carter appointed 57 minority judges and 41 female judges to the federal judiciary during his single term as President. This is said to be more than all previous presidents combined. He also appointed the first Black woman, Patricia Roberts Harris, to serve in a presidential cabinet. Carter’s faith as a Baptist shaped most of his actions in life. He not only described himself as a born-again Christian, but also linked his faith as being foundational to his politics. This is principally why he personally opposed abortion during his presidency.
Jimmy Carter was married to Rosalynn for 77 years and they both had four children and 11 grandchildren. They returned full time to the two-bedroom house they lived in before he entered politics after leaving the White House in 1981. Rosalynn died in November 2023 at the age of 96. The marriage, consummated in 1946, happened to be longer than any other presidential couple. He will be buried alongside his wife in his hometown, Plains, Georgia. The US flags will fly at half-mast on all federal buildings for 30 days. President Joe Biden declared January 9 a national day of mourning for the late former President. He called on Americans to visit their places of worship to pay homage to him.
We commiserate with all Americans on the death of their former President and wish him eternal rest in the bosom of the Lord.