Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter passes away at the age of 100

Jimmy Carter, the former U.S. president and Nobel Peace Prize laureate who rose from modest beginnings in rural Georgia to lead the country from 1977 to 1981, has passed away at the age of 100, according to his nonprofit organization.

Carter, who had been under hospice care at his home in Plains, Georgia, since February 2023, died peacefully surrounded by his family, the Carter Center announced in a statement. Plains, the small town where he was born and operated a peanut farm before entering politics, remained his lifelong home.

"My father was a hero, not just to me but to everyone who believes in peace, human rights, and selfless love," Chip Carter said in the statement.

Carter holds the distinction of being the longest-living U.S. president, an achievement that seemed improbable when he disclosed a brain cancer diagnosis in 2015. Despite this, the Navy veteran and devout Christian lived a remarkable and impactful life beyond his presidency, which lasted just one term.

During his time in the Oval Office, Carter prioritized human rights and social justice. His administration achieved significant milestones, such as the Camp David Accords, which brokered peace between Israel and Egypt. However, his presidency was also marked by challenges, including the Iranian hostage crisis and a failed rescue operation, as well as criticism for his handling of an oil crisis. In 1980, Carter lost his reelection bid to Republican Ronald Reagan, who ushered in an era of conservative politics.

A Legacy Beyond the Presidency

In the decades following his presidency, Carter’s image evolved to reflect his substantial humanitarian contributions. He founded the Carter Center in 1982 to advance global diplomacy and promote social and economic justice, an effort that earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. His post-presidential work included monitoring elections worldwide and mediating international conflicts in regions such as North Korea and Bosnia. Carter attributed his approach to public service to his Christian faith, which emphasized justice and love. Well into his 90s, he continued teaching Sunday school at Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains.

Expressions of admiration and condolences poured in following his death. President Joe Biden remarked that Carter "lived a life measured not by words, but by his deeds," while former presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama praised his character, service, and enduring legacy. Even political opponents like Donald Trump acknowledged Carter’s contributions, with Trump noting, “Americans owe him a debt of gratitude.”

Carter's foreign policy achievements, particularly the negotiation of the Panama Canal's return to Panama, remain significant. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi hailed Carter as a humanitarian leader, citing the lasting impact of the Camp David Accords.

Carter's passing comes just weeks after the death of his wife of 77 years, Rosalynn Carter, at age 96. Despite his frailty, Carter attended her memorial service in a wheelchair, wrapped in a blanket adorned with their likenesses.

He is survived by their four children—three sons and a daughter—and leaves behind a legacy as a leader, humanitarian, and advocate for global peace and justice.