Jimmy Carter, the 39th U.S. president and a champion of peace, human rights, and global health, passed away at 100, his family announced Sunday.
A Democrat from Georgia, Carter holds the record as the longest-lived U.S. president. Though his single term ended with a decisive loss to Ronald Reagan in 1981, Carter’s post-presidency was marked by his Nobel Peace Prize-winning work in diplomacy, humanitarian efforts, and disease eradication.
Carter entered hospice care in February 2023, choosing to spend his final days at home in Plains, Georgia, supported by his family. His wife of 77 years, Rosalynn Carter, passed away in November at age 96.
Carter’s presidency, beginning in 1977, showed early promise with achievements like returning control of the Panama Canal and brokering the Camp David Accords, which secured lasting peace between Israel and Egypt. However, domestic challenges such as inflation, energy crises, and the Iran hostage crisis marred his tenure. Despite being viewed unfavorably at the time, Carter’s integrity and candor set him apart, including his famous 1979 “crisis of confidence” speech.
After leaving office, Carter devoted himself to humanitarian causes through the Carter Center, tackling river blindness, Guinea worm disease, and election monitoring worldwide. He was also a prominent advocate for Middle East peace, renewable energy, and affordable housing through Habitat for Humanity.
Carter’s legacy as a moral leader and tireless advocate for justice has left an enduring impact far beyond his years in the White House.
He will be laid to rest in his hometown of Plains, Georgia.
