Jimmy Carter, the Longest-Living U.S. President, Passes Away at 100 [WATCH]

Former President Jimmy Carter, the longest-living U.S. president, passed away on Sunday at the age of 100.

His son, Chip Carter, confirmed his death occurred at 3:45 p.m. at the family home in Plains, Georgia. Carter had been receiving home hospice care since February 2023 after a series of hospital visits.

Carter, who made history as the only Georgian ever elected to the White House, was born in Plains on October 1, 1924, as the first of four children to Earl Carter, a farmer and businessman, and Lillian Gordy Carter, a registered nurse.

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After gaining an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy, Carter graduated and joined the Navy’s submarine branch.

He earned a place in the elite unit of America’s nuclear submarine fleet, “Rickover’s boys,” under the mentorship of Admiral Hyman Rickover.

However, Carter’s trajectory in the Navy changed after the death of his father from cancer in 1953.

Carter left his military career, returned to Georgia with his wife Rosalynn, and took over the family farming business.

This shift marked the beginning of his political career, starting with a run for the school board and later, the Georgia state senate.

In 1970, Carter was elected governor of Georgia, a position he held for one term before making a successful bid for the presidency.

Carter’s presidential campaign in 1976 culminated in a victory over Republican President Gerald Ford.

On Inauguration Day, instead of riding in an armored limousine, Carter and his wife Rosalynn, accompanied by their daughter Amy, walked down Pennsylvania Avenue, waving to the crowds.

As president, Carter focused on human rights, expanded the national parks system, and worked to restore credibility to the federal government following the Watergate scandal.

One of his most significant achievements was the Camp David Accords, where he brokered a peace agreement between Israel and Egypt.

However, his presidency was marred by multiple crises, including the Iran hostage situation.

In November 1979, Iranian militants seized the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, taking 52 Americans hostage. Despite negotiations and a failed rescue attempt, Carter was unable to resolve the crisis until the final day of his presidency.

At home, Carter struggled with a weak economy, worsened by oil embargoes from Middle Eastern countries, and growing resistance from both political opponents and members of his own party.

The rise of the Republican Party under Ronald Reagan further complicated his administration, culminating in his defeat in the 1980 election.

After leaving the White House, Carter returned to his hometown of Plains and, in many ways, became more influential than during his time in office.

He became a volunteer with Habitat for Humanity, an organization that builds homes for the poor. Alongside his wife, he also founded the Carter Center in Atlanta, which has focused on promoting peace, health, and democracy worldwide.

The Carter Center will continue the couple’s humanitarian work for years to come.

In recognition of his post-presidential contributions, Carter was awarded numerous honors, including the Nobel Peace Prize and the United Nations Human Rights Prize.

Both he and his wife received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Bill Clinton, who praised their lifetime of humanitarian efforts. “Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter,” Clinton remarked, “have done more good things for more people in more places than any other couple on the face of the Earth.”

Carter’s wife Rosalynn, who had been his partner for 77 years, passed away in November 2023.

The former president is survived by their children, Amy, Chip, Jack, and Jeff; 11 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.

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