Former U.S President Jimmy Carter dies. The Human Rights champion announced dead at 100
The United States of America was thrown into mourning as the ‘death’ news of its former President, Carter, broke yesterday.
James Earl “Jimmy” Carter Jr., a former naval officer, Nobel Peace Prize winner and a peanut farmer died successful.
Carter was elected governor of Georgia State and subsequently became the 39th president of the United States of America
He holds the record of longest-living former United States president, until the news of his death was released on Sunday, 29th December, 2024.
The former president served between 1977 and 1981 (one term), but through his humanitarian and philanthropic services after leaving office; working with Habitat for Humanity, enabling him to successfully strike many peace deal, he became wildly known.
“Earlier in my life, I thought the things that mattered were the things that you could see, like your car, your house, your wealth, your property, your office.
“But as I’ve grown older I’ve become convinced that the things that matter most are the things that you can’t see — the love you share with others, your inner purpose, your comfort with who you are,” Carter said.
The kind Carter persisted in his volunteer service for tens of years after leaving presidency until February 2023, when he entered hospice care.
Former U.S President Jimmy Carter Dies
Carter who chose to go by Jimmy rather than James, as his real name suggests, used to be one of the major proponents of Democratic politics, before, during and after his presidency.
As the president of United States, he underscored human rights in his foreign policy, pioneered environmentalism during a time it was not common and he introduced all-inclusive policy, comprising record numbers of women and people of different colours during his tenure.
Howbeit, his all-inclusive policy was viewed a “failure” by some but Carter claimed that the policy was considered a failure because he only served on term as the president.
Carter would end his zeal for public life. So, after he left White House, he continued to serve the public which included building homes for the poor and less-privileged through Habitat for Humanity.
In 2009, Carter said: “In all of our lives, there are usually a few precious moments when we feel exalted — that is, when we reach above our normal level of existence to a higher plane of excitement and achievement.”
“I predict that every one of you who volunteers to help others in need will feel this same sense of exaltation.
“I believe that, in making what seems to be a sacrifice, you will find fulfilment in the memorable experience of helping others less fortunate than yourself.”
Early Life
Jimmy (James) Carter was born in 1924 in a village of Plains, Georgia. His father, James Earl Carter Sr., was an agro-businessman, and his mother, Lillian Gordy Carter, a nurse.
The little Carter went to public school in Plains, and as a little boy, he intensified his desire for farming and used an acre of his father’s vast land to plan, grow and sell peanuts.
Carter Jr. furthered his studies to Georgia Southwestern College and the Georgia Institute of Technology.
He bagged a bachelor’s degree from the United States Naval Academy in 1946, and worked in the Navy for several years of his life, serving on submarines and earning the rank of lieutenant.
During his time in Schenectady, New York, he seized the privilege to study nuclear physics and became a senior officer on one of the United States’ first nuclear submarines.
Carter was reintroduced to Rosalynn Smith, a young lady he knew in his childhood during his senior years while studying at Naval Academy.
Former U.S President Jimmy Carter Dies
“The moon was full in the sky, conversation came easy, and I was in love,”
Rosalynn Carter said in her memoir “First Lady from Plains.”
The pair got married in 1946, the same year Carter graduated from the academy and a year later, 1947, they had their first child, Jack, trailed by James in 1950, Donnell in 1952 and Amy in 1967.
Rosalynn died on 19th November, 2023, at 96 years after 77 years of marriage.
After her death, Carter appeared to attribute all his successes to Rosalynn, saying: “She gave me wise guidance and encouragement when I needed it.
“As long as Rosalynn was in the world, I always knew somebody loved and supported me.”
In 1952, James Carter Sr. died. Following the death of his father, Carter Jr. resigned from the navy and returned home to Plains, where he took over his family’s farm and business.
He was tasked with more leadership role in the community, serving on several county boards and that strengthened his desire for politics.
In 1962, he contested for and won a seat in Georgia’s state senate.
Career And Rise in Politics
in 1970, Carter contested again for governor and won. In his inaugural speech, many of his supporters were shocked at his decision to end racial discrimination.
Being the governor of Georgia State, he surprisingly increased the number of black judges and state workers, consolidated the state’s labyrinthian bureaucracies and enforced tougher oversight of budgets.
Recalling his tenure as the president, he was found at loggerheads, on several occasions, with the state’s legislature. He was then described arrogant and difficult to work with.
Meanwhile, Carter found his right footing towards the Democratic nomination for president.
Before his term as governor ended in 1974, he announced his interest and candidature for the White House−two years before the general election.
Former U.S President Jimmy Carter Dies
“With the shame of Watergate still with us and our 200th birthday just ahead, it is time for us to reaffirm and to strengthen our ethical and spiritual and political beliefs,” Carter said in December 1974.
“There must be no lowering of these standards, no acceptance of mediocrity in any aspect of our private or public lives.
“In our homes or at worship we are ever reminded of what we ought to do and what we ought to be.
“Our government can and must represent the best and the highest ideals of those of us who voluntarily submit to its authority.”
Initially, Carter was an outcast, boasting of “little or no” national backing, but he spent his little time, vigorously campaigning and sensibly placed himself as a Washington novice with strict Christian principles.
Following years of fallacy trailing Vietnam and Watergate tale, many Americans were convinced that it was he they needed.
At the 1976 Democratic convention, Carter had garnered enough momentum to claim the nomination of the party.
Former U.S President Jimmy Carter Dies
Before the general election, he attended three presidential debates with President Gerald Ford−the first debate since the Kennedy-Nixon ones in 1960
In the general election, Carter slimly won, scoring 297 votes against Ford’s 240.
In November 1976, Carter said: “I think it’s time to tap the tremendous strength and vitality and idealism and hope and patriotism and a sense of brotherhood and sisterhood in this country to unify our nation, to make it great once again. It’s not… it’s not going to be easy for any of us.”
“I don’t claim to know all the answers, but I have said many times in my campaign around all 50 states that I’m not afraid to take on the responsibilities of president of the United States, because my strength and my courage and my advice and my counsel and my criticism comes from you.”
A Troubled presidency
Carter started brightly with ambition but his tenure was plagued with problems from the beginning.
His presidency was down-weighed by various crises. In the 1970s, the country’s economy suffocated, greeted with unprecedented combination inflation and recession.
Shortage in oil production and supply soared the price of gas, invasion of Afghanistan by Soviet Union, and thwarting negotiation for a significant arms accord.
Apparently, the problems lasted nearly as long as his tenure, Carter fought over an energy programme which was programmed to soar the price of fuel so the consumers would be prompted to conserve it.
The persistent crisis led carter to addressing the nation several times in 1979.
“In order to control energy price, production, and distribution, the Federal bureaucracy and red tape have become so complicated, it is almost unbelievable.
“Energy prices are high, and they’re going higher, no matter what we do,” he said in an April 1979 speech.
“There is no single answer. We must produce more. We must conserve more.
“And now we must join together in a great national effort to use American technology to give us energy security in the years ahead,” the president said.
“The most effective action we can take to encourage both conservation and production here at home is to stop rewarding those who import foreign oil and to stop encouraging waste by holding the price of American oil down far below its replacement or its true value.”
Howbeit, apparently, what can be attributed to Carter’s legacy is his failure to address Iran’s hostage crisis, during a period when mobs ransacked the US embassy in Tehran, abducting 52 people and holding them hostages through-out his presidency. Although, Carter tried to arrest the situation but unsuccessful
“We will not give up in our efforts,” Carter told the nation in 1980.
“Throughout this extraordinarily difficult period, we have pursued and will continue to pursue every possible avenue to secure the release of the hostages.
“In these efforts, the support of the American people and of our friends throughout the world has been a most crucial element.
“That support of other nations is even more important now.”
“We will seek to continue, along with other nations and with the officials of Iran, a prompt resolution of the crisis without any loss of life and through peaceful and diplomatic means.”
According to reports, the hostages were held for 444 days, a too-long period which infuriated many Americans.
And this distastefulness occasioned Carter’s loss to Ronald Reagan, a Republican, in 1980.
Carter woeful loss saw him only win six states in the election which portrayed America’s rejection of Carter. He lost the election by almost 9 million votes.
“I’ve not achieved all I set out to do; perhaps no one ever does. But we have faced the tough issues.
“We’ve stood for and we’ve fought for and we have achieved some very important goals for our country,’ Carter said after losing.
“These efforts will not end with this administration. The effort must go on. Nor will the progress that we have made be lost when we leave office.
“The great principles that have guided this nation since it’s very founding will continue to guide America through the challenges of the future.”
Former U.S President Jimmy Carter Dies
Post-Presidency Period
In 1982, Carter and his wife established the Carter Centre, a nonprofit organization, programmed to aid human rights, lead health initiatives and improve the quality of life for people around the globe.
Carter played significant roles in conflict resolution, observation of elections across nations with fraudulent electoral processes and served as an advisers to presidents of over 80 countries in the world.
Carter Center, under his leadership, worked with World Health Organization to almost extinct Guinea worm disease−an infection contracted after drinking unhealthy water.
The collaborative stride to eradicate the disease worked. The recorded cases dropped from 3.5 million in 1986 t0 13 in 2022, according to Carter Centre.
Carter and his wife also would spent one week in a year to volunteer with Habitat for Humanity, a nonprofit organization which aids homes for the poor.
His philanthropic and humanitarian work fetched him the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002.
“I believe that anyone can be successful in life, regardless of natural talent or the environment within which we live.
“This is not based on measuring success by human competitiveness for wealth, possessions, influence, and fame, but adhering to God’s standards of truth, justice, humility, service, compassion, forgiveness, and love,” Carter once said.
Though, on several occasions, he was labelled an “ineffectual public speaker.” Carter became a gifted and prolific writer.
He authored more than twelve books, ranging from his memoirs to inspirational bestsellers.
In January, 2023, Carter entered hospice care occasioned by various his various hospital stays.
He was followed by his wife, to hospice care, who eventually died on 19th November, 2023.
Meanwhile, Carter in his frail look, was present at wife’s funeral, captured smiling and greeting those offering their condolences.
On 1st October, 2024, Carter celebrated his 100th birthday, which made him the “oldest former United States President ever.”
Swarmed by loved ones, the former president, sitting in his wheelchair, was seen in the backyard of his home gazing at a military flyover in his honor.
Carter left his four children, twelve grandchildren and fourteen great-grandchildren behind.
Former U.S President Jimmy Carter Dies.
